Piano chords · Blues & boogie
China Doll: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by Jerry Garcia
- D minor
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
China Doll written out as piano music: the i – bIII – vio – bVI loop in D minor for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays jazz walk (walking bass), and the right hand sings the tune.
China Doll chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in D minor. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dm | i | D F A |
| 2 | F | III | F A C |
| 3 | Bdim | vi° | B D F |
| 4 | Bb | VI | Bb D F |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: jazz walk (walking bass) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the Dm – F – Bdim – Bb chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about China Doll
Does the sheet music for China Doll have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in China Doll?
The loop is Dm – F – Bdim – Bb (i – bIII – vio – bVI) in D minor, and the song ends on D – G – D.
What key is China Doll in?
D minor, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in China Doll?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is China Doll 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.