Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Candy on piano
Written by Isaac Hayes & Steve Cropper
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- V7–I–IV–I loop
- 1965
- Easy
Learn Candy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb – Ab – Eb
Candy sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7V7EbIAbIVEbI- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Bluesy shrug
A long root, then down and back up to a bluesy note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 73 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 130 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Candy
What chords are in Candy?
The loop is Bb7 – Eb – Ab – Eb (V7 – I – IV – I) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Candy in?
Eb major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Candy?
Bluesy shrug: broken chord 8-5-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Candy 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.