Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Over The Rainbow on piano
By Eva Cassidy
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 88 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Over The Rainbow in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Eb – Fm – Db
How it goes
Over The Rainbow sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIEbVFmviDbIV- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
- DbDb · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Tiptoe seesaw
How it goes
A low note, then the higher note tiptoes on every “and”. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 207 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 88 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: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb
Play next
Questions about Over The Rainbow
What chords are in Over The Rainbow?
The loop is Ab – Eb – Fm – Db (I – V – vi – IV) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Over The Rainbow in?
Ab major, at about 88 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Over The Rainbow?
Tiptoe seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Over The Rainbow 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.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.