Piano chords · Waltz garden

How to play Brush Up Your Shakespeare on piano

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Learn Brush Up Your Shakespeare in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: C7 – F – D7 – G7
Brush Up Your Shakespeare sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; D7 is D, F#, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7V7FID7VI7G7II7
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
Oom-pah-pahWaltz · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Waltz bells
A single high note, then two chords: ding, dong, dong in three. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz bellsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 110 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: F – C7 – F
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FC7F

What chords are in Brush Up Your Shakespeare?

The loop is C7 – F – D7 – G7 (V7 – I – VI7 – II7) in F major, and the song ends on F – C7 – F.

What key is Brush Up Your Shakespeare in?

F major, at about 110 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Brush Up Your Shakespeare?

Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Brush Up Your Shakespeare 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.