Sleep-in chords
Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end. One of the syncopated chord patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your right hand over a C chord. You need G (thumb, 1), A (thumb, 1), C (middle finger, 3), D (middle finger, 3), E (little finger, 5) and F♯ (little finger, 5).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play G, C and E together on 3 and 3&, then A, D and F♯ together on 4&.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: D, E, G, A, B and D♭. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Sleep-in chords on piano?
Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end. Right-hand chords with off-beat pushes. Musicians call it syncopated chords, 3, 3&, 4&.
Is Sleep-in chords hard to play?
It is a beginner pattern. Play it with your right hand alone at 60% speed until it feels steady, then add the other hand.
Which songs use Sleep-in chords?
Thunderstruck by AC/DC, Creep by Radiohead and Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd use Sleep-in chords. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.