Dark Eyes Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Dark Eyes in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A7 – Dm – A7 – Dm
Dark Eyes sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7V7DmiA7V7Dmi
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DmD · F · A
35 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Heartbeat chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
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: Bb – C – Dm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Dark Eyes?

The loop is A7 – Dm – A7 – Dm (V7 – i – V7 – i) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.

What key is Dark Eyes in?

D minor, at about 120 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Dark Eyes?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Dark Eyes 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.