Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter) on piano
By Stanley Myers
- D major
- 3/4
- 108 BPM
- V7–I–I7–IV loop
- 1971
- Medium
Learn Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – D – D7 – G
Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter) sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A; D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7V7DID7I7GIV- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- D7D · F# · A · C
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Moon River roll
A wide, flowing roll in three, the Moon River feel. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4) (open arpeggio), a medium pattern heard in 441 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 108 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter)
What chords are in Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter)?
The loop is A7 – D – D7 – G (V7 – I – I7 – IV) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter) in?
D major, at about 108 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter)?
Moon River roll: open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Cavatina (from The Deer Hunter) easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.