Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Streets Of Bakersfield on piano
Written by Homer Joy
- A major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- IV–V7–I–IV loop
- 1972
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Streets Of Bakersfield in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – E7 – A – D
How it goes
Streets Of Bakersfield sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; E7 is E, G#, B and D; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIVE7V7AIDIV- DD · F# · A
- E7E · G# · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
How it goes
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bouncy bells
How it goes
A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: A – D – A
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ADA
Play next
Questions about Streets Of Bakersfield
What chords are in Streets Of Bakersfield?
The loop is D – E7 – A – D (IV – V7 – I – IV) in A major, and the song ends on A – D – A.
What key is Streets Of Bakersfield in?
A major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Streets Of Bakersfield?
Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Streets Of Bakersfield 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.