Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Blue Eyes on piano
By Elton John
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 85 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Learn Blue Eyes in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – F – Fm – Gm7 – Gm7 – Csus4
Blue Eyes sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; F is F, A and C; Fm is F, Ab and C; Gm7 is G, Bb, D and F; Csus4 is C, F and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIFVFmvGm7vi7Gm7vi7Csus4IIsus4- BbBb · D · F
- FF · A · C
- FmF · Ab · C
- Gm7G · Bb · D · F
- Csus4C · F · G
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 85 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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
Play next
Questions about Blue Eyes
What chords are in Blue Eyes?
The loop is Bb – F – Fm – Gm7 – Gm7 – Csus4 (I – V – v – vi7 – IIsus4 – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Blue Eyes in?
Bb major, at about 85 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Blue Eyes?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Blue Eyes 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 Blue Eyes?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.