Groovy chords

Chords jump around the “ands” for a funky, dancing feel. One of the syncopated chord patterns.

Chords: C, G, Am, F
Practice in CA Thousand Miles From Nowhere by Dwight Yoakam

How to play it

  1. Find the notes

    Put your right hand over a C chord. You need E (thumb, 1), G (index finger, 2) and C (little finger, 5).

  2. Count and play

    Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play E, G and C together on 1, 1&, 2&, 3, 3& and 4&.

  3. Move it with the chords

    When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: B, D and G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.

Songs that use it

Questions

What is Groovy chords on piano?

Chords jump around the “ands” for a funky, dancing feel. Right-hand chords with off-beat pushes. Musicians call it syncopated chords, syncopated 8ths.

Is Groovy chords hard to play?

It is an intermediate pattern. Learn it with your right hand alone at 60% speed first, then play it over a chord loop.

Which songs use Groovy chords?

Where Is My Mind? by Pixies, Last Friday Night by Katy Perry and Bloody Well Right by Supertramp use Groovy chords. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.