Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Black Orpheus on piano
Written by Luiz Bonfa & Antonio Carlos Jobim
- G major
- 4/4
- 104 BPM
- 1959
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Black Orpheus in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: B7 – Em – Am – B7
How it goes
Black Orpheus sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B7 is B, D#, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
B7III7EmviAmiiB7III7- B7B · D# · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Marching giant
How it goes
Thick three-note chords on every beat, rocking between two shapes. Musicians call it lh triads (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 104 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 Black Orpheus
What chords are in Black Orpheus?
The loop is B7 – Em – Am – B7 (III7 – vi – ii – III7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Black Orpheus in?
G major, at about 104 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Black Orpheus?
Marching giant: lh triads, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Black Orpheus 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.