Butterfly Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Butterfly in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Bb – C7 – F – Bb7 – F – C7
Butterfly sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVC7V7FIBb7IV7FIC7V7
- BbBb · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
782 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Over-the-hill
A jump up to the top, then down through the chord to home. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-3-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 204 songs of the library.
Over-the-hillBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Knock-knock chords
Chord, a quick knock-knock, a pause, then one last chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Knock-knock chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 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 – Bb7 – F
The last chords are I – IV7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FBb7F

What chords are in Butterfly?

The loop is Bb – C7 – F – Bb7 – F – C7 (IV – V7 – I – IV7 – I – V7) in F major, and the song ends on F – Bb7 – F.

What key is Butterfly in?

F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Butterfly?

Over-the-hill: broken chord 1-5-3-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Butterfly 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 Butterfly?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.