Where Were You Last Night? Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Where Were You Last Night? in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D – A – D – G
How it goes
Where Were You Last Night? sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIAVDIGIV
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
76 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Jazz walkWalking bass · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pumping chords
How it goes
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pumping chordsPumping 8ths · RockRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 120 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 – G – D
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DGD

What chords are in Where Were You Last Night??

The loop is D – A – D – G (I – V – I – IV) in D major, and the song ends on D – G – D.

What key is Where Were You Last Night? in?

D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Where Were You Last Night??

Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Where Were You Last Night? 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.