Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Steel Guitar Rag on piano
Written by Leon McAuliffe
- F major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- I–V7–I–I7 loop
- 1941
- Easy
Learn Steel Guitar Rag in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C7 – F – F7
Steel Guitar Rag sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIC7V7FIF7I7- FF · A · C
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 120 BPM
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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Steel Guitar Rag
What chords are in Steel Guitar Rag?
The loop is F – C7 – F – F7 (I – V7 – I – I7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Steel Guitar Rag in?
F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Steel Guitar Rag?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Steel Guitar Rag 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.