The Great Pretender Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Great Pretender in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Eb – Eb7 – Ab – Bb7 – Eb – Ab – Eb – Fm – Bb7
How it goes
The Great Pretender sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 9 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIEb7I7AbIVBb7V7EbIAbIVEbIFmiiBb7V7
- EbEb · G · Bb
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- AbAb · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- FmF · Ab · C
169 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Over-the-hill
How it goes
A jump up to the top, then down through the chord to home. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-3-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 204 songs of the library.
Over-the-hillBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
4
Both hands at 72 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: Fm – Bb7 – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FmBb7Eb

What chords are in The Great Pretender?

The loop is Eb – Eb7 – Ab – Bb7 – Eb – Ab – Eb – Fm – Bb7 (I – I7 – IV – V7 – I – IV – I – ii – V7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Fm – Bb7 – Eb.

What key is The Great Pretender in?

Eb major, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Great Pretender?

Over-the-hill: broken chord 1-5-3-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Great Pretender easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 9 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of The Great Pretender?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.