Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play At Last on piano
By Etta James
- C major
- 4/4
- 95 BPM
- 1942
- Tricky
Learn At Last in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em7 – A7 – Dm7 – Fm – C – Cm – Dm7 – G7
At Last sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Em7 is E, G, B and D; A7 is A, C#, E and G; Dm7 is D, F, A and C; Fm is F, Ab and C; C is C, E and G; Cm is C, Eb and G; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Em7iii7A7VI7Dm7ii7FmivCICmiDm7ii7G7V7- Em7E · G · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
- Dm7D · F · A · C
- FmF · Ab · C
- CC · E · G
- CmC · Eb · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Trotting-sleigh chords
Three quick chords on every beat: a rolling, joyful gallop. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 95 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: F – G – C
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
Play next
Questions about At Last
What chords are in At Last?
The loop is Em7 – A7 – Dm7 – Fm – C – Cm – Dm7 – G7 (iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – iv – I – i – ii7 – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is At Last in?
C major, at about 95 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in At Last?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is At Last easy to play on piano?
It is a tricky one: learn the 8 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of At Last?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the opening of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.