Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Cantaloupe Island on piano
By Herbie Hancock
- F minor
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- 1964
- Easy
Learn Cantaloupe Island in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Fm7 – Fm – Fm7 – Fm – Fm7 – Fm – Fm7
Cantaloupe Island sits in F minor: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Fm7 is F, Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmiFm7i7FmiFm7i7FmiFm7i7FmiFm7i7- FmF · Ab · C
- Fm7F · Ab · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
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.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 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: Db – Eb – Fm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbFm- DbDb · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
Questions about Cantaloupe Island
What chords are in Cantaloupe Island?
The loop is Fm – Fm7 – Fm – Fm7 – Fm – Fm7 – Fm – Fm7 (i – i7 – i – i7 – i – i7 – i – i7) in F minor, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Fm.
What key is Cantaloupe Island in?
F minor, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Cantaloupe Island?
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 Cantaloupe Island easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Cantaloupe Island?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.