Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Wonderful Tonight on piano
By Eric Clapton
- G major
- 4/4
- 96 BPM
- 1977
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Wonderful Tonight in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – C – D7
How it goes
Wonderful Tonight sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; C is C, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIDVCIVD7V7- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- CC · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Knock-knock chords
How it goes
Chord, a quick knock-knock, a pause, then one last chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 96 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: C – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CD7G
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Questions about Wonderful Tonight
What chords are in Wonderful Tonight?
The loop is G – D – C – D7 (I – V – IV – V7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D7 – G.
What key is Wonderful Tonight in?
G major, at about 96 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Wonderful Tonight?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Wonderful Tonight easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Wonderful Tonight?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.