Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Candle In The Wind 1997 on piano

By Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Candle In The Wind 1997 in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A – D – A – E – E – E7
How it goes
Candle In The Wind 1997 sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A; E is E, G# and B; E7 is E, G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIVDbVIIAIVEIEIE7I7
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- E7E · G# · B · D
14 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Pop heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Late-hop chords
How it goes
Steady chords with one quick extra hop after beat 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Late-hop chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 96 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: E – F#m – E
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EF#mE
- F#mF# · A · C#

What chords are in Candle In The Wind 1997?

The loop is A – D – A – E – E – E7 (IV – bVII – IV – I – I7 – IV) in E major, and the song ends on E – F#m – E.

What key is Candle In The Wind 1997 in?

E major, at about 96 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Candle In The Wind 1997?

Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Candle In The Wind 1997 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 Candle In The Wind 1997?

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

Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.