Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Straight Up & Down on piano
Artist unknown
- C major
- 2/2
- 138 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Straight Up & Down in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Em – F – Dm
How it goes
Straight Up & Down sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Em is E, G and B; F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIEmiiiFIVDmii- CC · E · G
- EmE · G · B
- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Bounce-back seesaw
How it goes
Low, low, a hop up on beat 3, and straight back down. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 173 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 138 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Straight Up & Down
What chords are in Straight Up & Down?
The loop is C – Em – F – Dm (I – iii – IV – ii) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Straight Up & Down in?
C major, at about 138 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Straight Up & Down?
Bounce-back seesaw: root–fifth 1-1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Straight Up & Down 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.