Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The River Of Dreams on piano
By Billy Joel
- G major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- I–IV–V–I loop
- 1993
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The River Of Dreams in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – C – D – G
How it goes
The River Of Dreams sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GICIVDVGI- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Push and land
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Lighthouse blink
How it goes
A note and the one above flash in turn, steady as a lighthouse. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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
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Questions about The River Of Dreams
What chords are in The River Of Dreams?
The loop is G – C – D – G (I – IV – V – I) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is The River Of Dreams in?
G major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The River Of Dreams?
Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The River Of Dreams easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.