Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Southern Girl on piano
Written by Jaren Johnston, Lee Thomas Miller & others
- G major
- 4/4
- 112 BPM
- I–V–vi–V loop
- 2013
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Southern Girl in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – Em – D
How it goes
Southern Girl sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIDVEmviDV- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Hop-skip heartbeat
How it goes
Three steps, then a quick hop that skips right over beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 250 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 112 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
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Questions about Southern Girl
What chords are in Southern Girl?
The loop is G – D – Em – D (I – V – vi – V) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Southern Girl in?
G major, at about 112 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Southern Girl?
Hop-skip heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Southern Girl easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.