Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Boneology on piano
By J.J. Johnson
- Db major
- 4/4
- 135 BPM
- 1948
- Easy
Learn Boneology in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fbm – A7 – Fbm – A7
Boneology sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fbm is Fb, Abb and Cb; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FbmbiiiA7bVI7FbmbiiiA7bVI7- FbmFb · Abb · Cb
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Island zigzag
A jump up, then down past the start, in the three-three-two rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 135 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: Ebm – Ab7 – Db
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbmAb7Db- EbmEb · Gb · Bb
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- DbDb · F · Ab
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Questions about Boneology
What chords are in Boneology?
The loop is Fbm – A7 – Fbm – A7 (biii – bVI7 – biii – bVI7) in Db major, and the song ends on Ebm – Ab7 – Db.
What key is Boneology in?
Db major, at about 135 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Boneology?
Island zigzag: broken chord 8-12-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Boneology 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.