Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Born To Be Blue on piano
By Mel Torme
- C major
- 4/4
- 105 BPM
- 1946
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Born To Be Blue in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – Db7 – C7 – Db7
How it goes
Born To Be Blue sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; Db7 is Db, F, Ab and Cb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7I7Db7bII7C7I7Db7bII7- C7C · E · G · Bb
- Db7Db · F · Ab · Cb
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 105 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Born To Be Blue
What chords are in Born To Be Blue?
The loop is C7 – Db7 – C7 – Db7 (I7 – bII7 – I7 – bII7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Born To Be Blue in?
C major, at about 105 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Born To Be Blue?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Born To Be Blue 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.