Summertime

by Janis Joplin
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Up nextME AND BOBBY McGEE
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Lyrics

Sum mer (C#)time, ings

time,

(C)and gon na the liv in’ is (Em)eas

(G)y.

Fish are

(Am)jump in’ out

and the (A7)cot ton, Lord,

cot ton’s (B7)high.

Your dad til dy’s (C#)rich ing,

and your (Am7)ma,

she’s (Em)so good (Em)look in’, babe.

Think she’s look in’ (A7)good now.

Hush, my ba by, (Em)ba by, ba by, ba by, ba by,

hon ey, (B7)no, no, no, no, don’t you (Em)cry,

don’t you cry.

(B7)One of these

Summertime by Janis Joplin

14 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of E at 90 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

Learn how to accompany it· the chords and what each hand plays, on Super Simple Chords ↗

About “Summertime”

What key is "Summertime" in?
"Summertime" by Janis Joplin is in the key of E with a tempo of 90 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "Summertime" easy to play on piano?
This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.
Can I play "Summertime" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
What chords are used in "Summertime"?
This arrangement of "Summertime" uses 15 chords: A7, Am, Am7, B, B7, C, C#dim7, C#m7, +7 more.
How long does it take to learn "Summertime" on piano?
2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.
What other songs by Janis Joplin can I play here?
Try "ME AND BOBBY McGEE", "LITTLE GIRL BLUE", "PIECE OF MY HEART". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.