How To Play "The Beat Goes On" by Sonny and Cher

If you're a beginner or an advanced musician, "The Beat Goes On" by Sonny and Cher is a fun and simple song that can be played in many different ways. With only one chord played throughout the entire song, this classic hit uses primarily the F major chord.

For the Beginner Piano Players

For the piano, you will play the F major chord with the notes F, A, and C either in half-note, quarter-note, or whole-note patterns.

If we take the standard counting of four (1-2-3-4) and consistently count the numbers repeatedly with the chord playing, you will play a progression that is similar to what you hear in the song.

Playing the notes in half-note patterns consists of playing one time between beats 1 and 2....and another time between beats 3 and 4. The quarter note pattern has the same counting as the half notes (1-2-3-4), but you will play the F, A, and C notes for every beat. Whole note pattern playing is the easiest because you only play one chord for every four beats.

Beat Beat Beat Beat

Quarter-Note playing: 1 2 3 4

Play Play Play Play

Beat Beat Beat Beat

Half-Note playing: 1 2 3 4

Play and Hold Play and Hold

Beat Beat Beat Beat

Whole Note playing: 1 2 3 4

Play........... and..........Hold................

For the Advanced Piano Players

For the advanced players, you can try to take the following notes from above and split the notes between the right and left hands.

The left hand can be played using the notes of F, C, and F in octave playing with an added fifth alternating in an eighth note swing beat format.

The right hand could also use some inversions by flipping the F, A, and C notes around to the following options:

Primary position: F, A, and C

1st Inversion: A, C, and F

2nd Inversion: C, A, and F

There is also an added F dominant 7th chord in the song. If you hear closely, you'll be using the following letters: F, A, C, and Eb

For the Guitar Players

You can take the barre chord of F major with the pointer finger pressing down on all six strings of the first fret...middle finger is pressing the third-string "G" on the second fret....and the third fret has the A and D strings pressed with the ring and pinky fingers.

The other option is to take the pointer finger and press the B string of the sixth fret...middle finger is on the seventh fret pressing down the D string....ring finger is pressing the A string on the eighth fret.....and the pinky is pressing the high E string on the eighth fret.

For the more advanced guitar players, you can add in the F7 chord barring the 8th fret with your pointer finger....ring finger will press the D string of the tenth fret....and the pinky will press the B string of the tenth fret.