Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Aloha Oe on piano
Written by Queen Liliuokalani
- C major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- V7–I–I7–IV loop
- 2009
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Aloha Oe in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – C7 – F
How it goes
Aloha Oe sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIC7I7FIV- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Island seesaw
How it goes
Low, high, low in the three-three-two island rhythm. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 723 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Aloha Oe
What chords are in Aloha Oe?
The loop is G7 – C – C7 – F (V7 – I – I7 – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Aloha Oe in?
C major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Aloha Oe?
Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Aloha Oe 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.