How to Play "Casey Jones" by Grateful Dead on Piano
“Casey Jones” is in G major, 4/4 time, at 100 BPM. This lesson teaches a simple version of the song: the melody in your right hand and easy chords in your left, one phrase at a time. The song has 21 phrases, and 15 of them repeat ones you will already know.
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- Easy
- Melody + easy chords
Free to play. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack.
What you need to know
Read from the song's own melody and chords. The left hand is kept simple on purpose.
Time signature
4/4
4 beats in every bar, at 100 BPM
Your left hand for this song
Arpeggio
We'll use this simple left-hand pattern to accompany the melody: low, middle, high, middle, two notes a beat. A slow song in 4/4 has room for two notes a beat.
Right hand
The melody
The tune the singer sings, one note at a time, with finger numbers.
The lesson, step by step
3 short steps for each phrase of the song. Each one opens in the lesson player, so you can listen and play along on your own piano.
- Start hereRight hand
Step 1: Melody
Listen, then play the tune with your right hand, with finger numbers.
Open this step - Left hand
Step 2: Chords
Your left hand learns this phrase's chords: a bass note, block chords, or a simple pattern.
Open this step - Both hands
Step 3: Hands together
The melody with your left hand's chords under it. When you can play this, you can play the phrase.
Open this step Then play the whole song
When you can play every phrase, play the full sheet music in the player.
Play the full song
Frequently asked questions
What key is “Casey Jones” in?
“Casey Jones” is in G major, which has 1 sharp: F#. The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E and F#.
What are the chords in “Casey Jones”?
The lesson plays 7 chords, one easy shape each: G, C, A, D, B, Em and E. As the sheet music writes them: G, C, A7, D, D7, B7/D#, Em and E7/G#. Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays A where the sheet music writes A7.
What should my left hand play in “Casey Jones”?
First your left hand learns each phrase's chords on its own, then with the melody. It plays a bass note or a block chord when the chord changes, or a simple pattern: you choose, and the same choice stays on both steps.
What tempo is “Casey Jones”?
“Casey Jones” plays at 100 BPM in 4/4. Every step starts at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down as much as you need.
Is “Casey Jones” hard to play on piano?
It is rated Easy. The melody goes from C4 up to D5. The lesson teaches a simple version: the melody and one easy chord shape at a time in the left hand.
Where can I get the sheet music for “Casey Jones”?
Play the full sheet music free in the interactive player, or download a printable PDF. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack. It is this lesson on paper, with fingering, one left-hand style per PDF.