Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Blackbird on piano
By Glee Cast
- G major
- 3/4
- 90 BPM
- Easy
Learn Blackbird in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – G – A7 – Am
Blackbird sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; G is G, B and D; A7 is A, C#, E and G; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmivGIA7II7Amii- CmC · Eb · G
- GG · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Marching giant
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: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: Am – D7 – G
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmD7G- D7D · F# · A · C
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Questions about Blackbird
What chords are in Blackbird?
The loop is Cm – G – A7 – Am (iv – I – II7 – ii) in G major, and the song ends on Am – D7 – G.
What key is Blackbird in?
G major, at about 90 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Blackbird?
Marching giant: lh triads, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Blackbird 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.