Piano chords · Waltz garden

How to play Chopsticks on piano

By Arthur de Lulli

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Chopsticks in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – Dm7 – Dm – G7
How it goes
Chopsticks sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Dm7 is D, F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GVDm7ii7DmiiG7V7
- GG · B · D
- Dm7D · F · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
Oom-pah-pahWaltz · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Waltz chords
How it goes
A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz chordsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 134 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Chopsticks?

The loop is G – Dm7 – Dm – G7 (V – ii7 – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Chopsticks in?

C major, at about 134 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Chopsticks?

Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Chopsticks 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.

Can I hear the real melody of Chopsticks?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the opening 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.