Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Dancing In The Dark on piano
Written by Arthur Schwartz
- C major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- 1931
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Dancing In The Dark in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Cdim – Dm – G7
How it goes
Dancing In The Dark sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Cdim is C, Eb and Gb; 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.
CICdimi°DmiiG7V7- CC · E · G
- CdimC · Eb · Gb
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Dancing In The Dark
What chords are in Dancing In The Dark?
The loop is C – Cdim – Dm – G7 (I – io – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Dancing In The Dark in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Dancing In The Dark?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dancing In The Dark 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.