Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Summer In The City on piano
Written by John Sebastian, Steve Boone & others
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 85 BPM
- vi–II–vi–II loop
- 1966
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Summer In The City in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – F – Cm – F
How it goes
Summer In The City sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmviFIICmviFII- CmC · Eb · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Clockwork chords
How it goes
Four quick, even chords per short bar, ticking like clockwork. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 85 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Summer In The City
What chords are in Summer In The City?
The loop is Cm – F – Cm – F (vi – II – vi – II) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Summer In The City in?
Eb major, at about 85 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Summer In The City?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Summer In The City easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.