PianoChords.studio

The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton

Piano chords, voicings & structure breakdown · 15 steps · 4 unique chords · 1950s

Expert transcription. These chords come from a published research transcription of the original recording by trained musicians. A second independent transcription to cross-check against isn't available (or differs in places), so this page isn't marked verified.
IntroStep 1 of 15

A

LeftA2, E3RightC♯4, E4, A4
C4A2E3E4A4C♯4
Left hand Right hand Middle C (C4)

Harmonic Analysis & Structure

Overview

Key: A major · Chords used: 4 · Sections: 12

Form: Intro → Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Bridge → Verse → Chorus → Bridge → Outro

Where these chords come from: an expert transcription of the original recording made for the McGill Billboard Project (Burgoyne, Wild & Fujinaga, 2011). This page shows that transcription as-is: the analysis below is generated directly from it by code, not written by AI. Consecutive repeats of a chord are shown once, and the piano voicings are our playable arrangement of each chord symbol, not a note-for-note transcription.

Section by section

Intro

  • A – D – E7 – A
    I – IV – V7 – I

Verse 1

  • A – D – E7 (×2)
    I – IV – V7
  • A
    I

Chorus 1

  • A – E (×2)
    I – V
  • A
    I

Verse 2

Same chords as Verse 1.

Chorus 2

Same chords as Chorus 1.

Verse 3

Same chords as Verse 1.

Chorus 3

Same chords as Chorus 1.

Bridge 1

  • A – E (×2)
    I – V
  • A
    I

Verse 4

Same chords as Verse 1.

Chorus 4

Same chords as Chorus 1.

Bridge 2

Same chords as Bridge 1.

Outro

  • A
    I

Chord vocabulary

ChordRoman numeralRoleHeard in
AIHome chord (tonic)Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Outro
DIVIn the keyIntro, Verse
E7V7In the keyIntro, Verse
EVIn the keyChorus, Bridge

Sources & accuracy

  • Chords and sections: the McGill Billboard Project (Burgoyne, Wild & Fujinaga, 2011). Expert transcription by trained musicians (song 0500, CC0), via ChoCo.
  • Not verified: only one expert transcription of this song is available so far.
  • Rhythm and chord durations aren't shown; each step is one chord change.

Sources & Accuracy

Every chord on this page comes from the expert transcription listed first below. Piano voicings are our arrangement of the reported chord symbols, not a note-for-note transcription.

All Piano Voicings

#SectionChordLeft handRight handSources
1IntroAA2, E3C♯4, E4, A4—
2IntroDD2, A2D4, F♯4, A4—
3IntroE7E2, B2D4, G♯4, B4—
4IntroAA2, E3E4, A4, C♯5—
5Verse 1, part 1 (×2)AA2, E3E4, A4, C♯5—
6Verse 1, part 1 (×2)DD2, A2F♯4, A4, D5—
7Verse 1, part 1 (×2)E7E2, B2G♯4, B4, D5—
8Verse 1, part 2AA2, E3A4, C♯5, E5—
9Chorus 1, part 1 (×2)AA2, E3A4, C♯5, E5—
10Chorus 1, part 1 (×2)EE2, B2G♯4, B4, E5—
11Chorus 1, part 2AA2, E3A4, C♯5, E5—
12Bridge 1, part 1 (×2)AA2, E3A4, C♯5, E5—
13Bridge 1, part 1 (×2)EE2, B2G♯4, B4, E5—
14Bridge 1, part 2AA2, E3A4, C♯5, E5—
15OutroAA2, E3A4, C♯5, E5—