Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Sweet Child O’ Mine on piano
By Taken By Trees
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 116 BPM
- I–bVII–IV–I loop
- Easy
Learn Sweet Child O’ Mine in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Ab – Eb – Bb
Sweet Child O’ Mine sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIAbbVIIEbIVBbI- BbBb · D · F
- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 116 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: Ab – Eb – Bb
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbEbBb
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Questions about Sweet Child O’ Mine
What chords are in Sweet Child O’ Mine?
The loop is Bb – Ab – Eb – Bb (I – bVII – IV – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on Ab – Eb – Bb.
What key is Sweet Child O’ Mine in?
Bb major, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Sweet Child O’ Mine?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Sweet Child O’ Mine 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.