Piano chords · Film & wonder
How to play Alejandro on piano
By Lady Gaga
- D major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- IV–I–V–vi loop
- 2009
- Tricky
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Alejandro in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – A – Bm
How it goes
Alejandro sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIVDIAVBmvi- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Thunder tremolo
How it goes
An octave shaking fast: thunder and suspense. Musicians call it octave tremolo (tremolo), a tricky pattern heard in 150 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Springy chords
How it goes
A quick double skip at the start, then steady chords to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
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Questions about Alejandro
What chords are in Alejandro?
The loop is G – D – A – Bm (IV – I – V – vi) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Alejandro in?
D major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Alejandro?
Thunder tremolo: octave tremolo, a tricky pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Alejandro easy to play on piano?
It is a tricky one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Alejandro?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.