Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Tequila Sunrise on piano
Written by Don Henley & Glenn Frey
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1973
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Tequila Sunrise in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – Am – D7
How it goes
Tequila Sunrise sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Am is A, C and E; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIDVAmiiD7V7- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- AmA · C · E
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Pop seesaw
How it goes
Two low notes, long then short, then a step up on beat 3. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 294 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bossa chords
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: soft Brazilian chords. 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
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Questions about Tequila Sunrise
What chords are in Tequila Sunrise?
The loop is G – D – Am – D7 (I – V – ii – V7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Tequila Sunrise in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Tequila Sunrise?
Pop seesaw: root–fifth 1-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Tequila Sunrise 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.