Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Clair de Lune on piano
By Claude Debussy
- Db major
- 9/8
- 80 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Clair de Lune in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Gbm – Bbm7 – Ab7
How it goes
Clair de Lune sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Gbm is Gb, Bbb and Db; Bbm7 is Bb, Db, F and Ab; Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmiiiGbmivBbm7vi7Ab7V7- FmF · Ab · C
- GbmGb · Bbb · Db
- Bbm7Bb · Db · F · Ab
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
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
How it goes
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 80 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: Gb – Ab – Db
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbAbDb- GbGb · Bb · Db
- AbAb · C · Eb
- DbDb · F · Ab
Questions about Clair de Lune
What chords are in Clair de Lune?
The loop is Fm – Gbm – Bbm7 – Ab7 (iii – iv – vi7 – V7) in Db major, and the song ends on Gb – Ab – Db.
What key is Clair de Lune in?
Db major, at about 80 beats a minute in 9/8.
What does the left hand play in Clair de Lune?
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 Clair de Lune 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 Clair de Lune?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the opening 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.