Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Copenhagen on piano
By Walter Melrose
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–V7–I–V7 loop
- 1924
- Easy
Learn Copenhagen in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – F7 – Bb – F7
Copenhagen sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIF7V7BbIF7V7- BbBb · D · F
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
Play next
Questions about Copenhagen
What chords are in Copenhagen?
The loop is Bb – F7 – Bb – F7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Copenhagen in?
Bb major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Copenhagen?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Copenhagen 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.