Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Ave Maria on piano
By Franz Schubert
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 56 BPM
- Easy
Learn Ave Maria in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Ab – Fm – Eb – Fm – Eb7
Ave Maria sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIAbIFmviEbVFmviEb7V7- AbAb · C · Eb
- FmF · Ab · C
- EbEb · G · Bb
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 56 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: Db – Eb – Ab
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
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Questions about Ave Maria
What chords are in Ave Maria?
The loop is Ab – Ab – Fm – Eb – Fm – Eb7 (I – vi – V – vi – V7 – I) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Ave Maria in?
Ab major, at about 56 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Ave Maria?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Ave Maria easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 6 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Ave Maria?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 8 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.