Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Tennessee River on piano

Written by Randy Owen

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Tennessee River in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: D – A – G – D
Tennessee River sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIVAIGbVIIDIV
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
39 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 songs of the library.
Drowsy heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hopscotch bellsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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: G – D – A
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GDA

What chords are in Tennessee River?

The loop is D – A – G – D (IV – I – bVII – IV) in A major, and the song ends on G – D – A.

What key is Tennessee River in?

A major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Tennessee River?

Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Tennessee River 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.