Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Brother, My Brother on piano
By Joan Frey Boytim
- D minor
- 3/4
- 105 BPM
- 1998
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Brother, My Brother in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gm – Dm – Bb – C
How it goes
Brother, My Brother sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; Dm is D, F and A; Bb is Bb, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmivDmiBbVICVII- GmG · Bb · D
- DmD · F · A
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Waltz ripple
How it goes
A ripple of three notes in three-time. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 473 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: Bb – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm
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Questions about Brother, My Brother
What chords are in Brother, My Brother?
The loop is Gm – Dm – Bb – C (iv – i – bVI – bVII) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Brother, My Brother in?
D minor, at about 105 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Brother, My Brother?
Waltz ripple: broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Brother, My Brother 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.