Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Banana Boat Song on piano
By Jamaican Work Song
- C major
- 2/2
- 80 BPM
- 2011
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Banana Boat Song in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – G7 – C – C – C
How it goes
The Banana Boat Song sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7G7V7CICICI- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Stair steps
How it goes
Three notes climb up the chord in the island rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 438 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sprint-and-stop chords
How it goes
Four quick chords in the first half, then a calm, empty second half. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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 – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C
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Questions about The Banana Boat Song
What chords are in The Banana Boat Song?
The loop is G7 – G7 – C – C – C (V7 – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is The Banana Boat Song in?
C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in The Banana Boat Song?
Stair steps: broken chord 1-3-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Banana Boat Song easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of The Banana Boat Song?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the repeating figure of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.