Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Sweet Caroline on piano
By Neil Diamond
- A major
- 4/4
- 117 BPM
- Easy
Learn Sweet Caroline in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – E7 – D – E
Sweet Caroline 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; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIVE7V7DIVEV- DD · F# · A
- E7E · G# · B · D
- EE · G# · B
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 117 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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Sweet Caroline
What chords are in Sweet Caroline?
The loop is D – E7 – D – E (IV – V7 – IV – V) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Sweet Caroline in?
A major, at about 117 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Sweet Caroline?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Sweet Caroline 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Sweet Caroline?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.