Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Sunshine & Whiskey on piano
Written by Luke Laird & Jaren Johnston
- E major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–bVII–IV–I loop
- 2014
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Sunshine & Whiskey in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – D – A – E
How it goes
Sunshine & Whiskey sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIDbVIIAIVEI- EE · G# · B
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Hop-skip heartbeat
How it goes
Three steps, then a quick hop that skips right over beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 250 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Gospel-clap chords
How it goes
Skips beat 1, then soulful chords that bounce off the “ands”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- BB · D# · F#
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Questions about Sunshine & Whiskey
What chords are in Sunshine & Whiskey?
The loop is E – D – A – E (I – bVII – IV – I) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Sunshine & Whiskey in?
E major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Sunshine & Whiskey?
Hop-skip heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Sunshine & Whiskey 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.