Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Swing Low, Sweet Chariot on piano
- G major
- 4/4
- 96 BPM
- 2005
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Swing Low, Sweet Chariot in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – Am7 – G – D7 – G – C – Am7
How it goes
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: Am is A, C and E; Am7 is A, C, E and G; G is G, B and D; D7 is D, F#, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmiiAm7ii7GID7V7GICIVAm7ii7- AmA · C · E
- Am7A · C · E · G
- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
How it goes
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 96 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: G – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GD7G
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Questions about Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
What chords are in Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?
The loop is Am – Am7 – G – D7 – G – C – Am7 (ii – ii7 – I – V7 – I – IV – ii7) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.
What key is Swing Low, Sweet Chariot in?
G major, at about 96 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Swing Low, Sweet Chariot easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.