Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
How to play Sugaree on piano
Written by Jerry Garcia
- C major
- 12/8
- 120 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1971
- Easy
Learn Sugaree in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – F
Sugaree sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIFIV- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Slow-dance heartbeat
Four slow, deep beats under a swaying fifties ballad. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 134 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Slow-dance chords
Four slow chords per bar under a swaying fifties ballad. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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 – F – C
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbFC- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Sugaree
What chords are in Sugaree?
The loop is C – F – C – F (I – IV – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on Bb – F – C.
What key is Sugaree in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Sugaree?
Slow-dance heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Sugaree 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.