Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Dark Necessities on piano
Artist unknown
- C minor
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- Medium
Learn Dark Necessities in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Fm – Cm – Bb
Dark Necessities sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Cm is C, Eb and G; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbVIFmivCmiBbVII- AbAb · C · Eb
- FmF · Ab · C
- CmC · Eb · G
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll rocker
The left hand rocks between two shapes, straight out of the 1950s. Musicians call it rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle (boogie & shuffle), a medium pattern heard in 262 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 92 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: Ab – Bb – Cm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm
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Questions about Dark Necessities
What chords are in Dark Necessities?
The loop is Ab – Fm – Cm – Bb (bVI – iv – i – bVII) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is Dark Necessities in?
C minor, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Dark Necessities?
Rock’n’roll rocker: rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dark Necessities easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.