Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Behind Blue Eyes on piano
Written by Pete Townshend
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1971
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Behind Blue Eyes in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bm – A – E – Bm
How it goes
Behind Blue Eyes sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; A is A, C# and E; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmiiiAIIEVIBmiii- BmB · D · F#
- AA · C# · E
- EE · G# · B
- 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: Steady chords
How it goes
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 100 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Behind Blue Eyes
What chords are in Behind Blue Eyes?
The loop is Bm – A – E – Bm (iii – II – VI – iii) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Behind Blue Eyes in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Behind Blue Eyes?
Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Behind Blue Eyes 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.