Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Wharf Rat on piano
Written by Jerry Garcia
- A major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- 1971
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Wharf Rat in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Asus4 – Em – Asus4 – Em
How it goes
Wharf Rat sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Asus4 is A, D and E; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Asus4Isus4EmvAsus4Isus4Emv- Asus4A · D · E
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 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.
- 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: D – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Wharf Rat
What chords are in Wharf Rat?
The loop is Asus4 – Em – Asus4 – Em (Isus – v – Isus – v) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Wharf Rat in?
A major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Wharf Rat?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Wharf Rat 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.