Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play A Whiter Shade of Pale on piano
Written by Keith Reid & Gary Brooker
- C major
- 4/4
- 76 BPM
- 1967
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn A Whiter Shade of Pale in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Em – Am – C – F – Am – Dm – F
How it goes
A Whiter Shade of Pale sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: C is C, E and G; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E; F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIEmiiiAmviCIFIVAmviDmiiFIV- CC · E · G
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Marching giant
How it goes
Thick three-note chords on every beat, rocking between two shapes. Musicians call it lh triads (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
How it goes
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 76 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 – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C- G7G · B · D · F
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Questions about A Whiter Shade of Pale
What chords are in A Whiter Shade of Pale?
The loop is C – Em – Am – C – F – Am – Dm – F (I – iii – vi – I – IV – vi – ii – IV) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is A Whiter Shade of Pale in?
C major, at about 76 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in A Whiter Shade of Pale?
Marching giant: lh triads, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is A Whiter Shade of Pale easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of A Whiter Shade of Pale?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.