Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play African Flower on piano
Written by Duke Ellington
- E minor
- 4/4
- 117 BPM
- 1963
- Easy
Learn African Flower in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – Gm – G – Em
African Flower sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; Gm is G, Bb and D; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiGmiiiGIIIEmi- EmE · G · B
- GmG · Bb · D
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Upside-down pulse
Every note lands between the beats, so it bounces like reggae. Musicians call it root bass · offbeats (&s) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 176 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
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 117 BPM
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 – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about African Flower
What chords are in African Flower?
The loop is Em – Gm – G – Em (i – biii – bIII – i) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is African Flower in?
E minor, at about 117 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in African Flower?
Upside-down pulse: root bass · offbeats (&s), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is African Flower 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.