Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play April In Paris on piano
By Count Basie
- C major
- 4/4
- 95 BPM
- 1932
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn April In Paris in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – Db7 – D7 – Dm
How it goes
April In Paris sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; Db7 is Db, F, Ab and Cb; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7II7Db7bII7D7II7Dmii- D7D · F# · A · C
- Db7Db · F · Ab · Cb
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 95 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- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
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Questions about April In Paris
What chords are in April In Paris?
The loop is D7 – Db7 – D7 – Dm (II7 – bII7 – II7 – ii) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is April In Paris in?
C major, at about 95 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in April In Paris?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is April In Paris 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 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.