Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down on piano
Written by Robbie Robertson
- C major
- 4/4
- 116 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1969
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – F
How it goes
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIFIV- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 116 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
What chords are in The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down?
The loop is C – F – C – F (I – IV – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down in?
C major, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.