The Varsity Drag Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Varsity Drag in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – C7 – F – Fm
How it goes
The Varsity Drag sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIC7I7FIVFmiv
- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- FmF · Ab · C
38 songs go round the same chords
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.
Stair stepsBroken chord · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Skip-and-stroll chords
How it goes
A skippy push at the start, then calm chords on 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Skip-and-stroll chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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 – Fm – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – iv – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFmC

What chords are in The Varsity Drag?

The loop is C – C7 – F – Fm (I – I7 – IV – iv) in C major, and the song ends on C – Fm – C.

What key is The Varsity Drag in?

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

What does the left hand play in The Varsity Drag?

Stair steps: broken chord 1-3-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Varsity Drag 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.