Dark Sky Island Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Dark Sky Island in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D – A – D – G
Dark Sky Island sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIAVDIGIV
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
76 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Lullaby ripple
Up to the top and rocking there in quick notes: a lullaby in three. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5-8-5 (3/4) (broken chord), a medium pattern heard in 92 songs of the library.
Lullaby rippleBroken chord · WaltzLeft handMedium
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 96 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD

What chords are in Dark Sky Island?

The loop is D – A – D – G (I – V – I – IV) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is Dark Sky Island in?

D major, at about 96 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Dark Sky Island?

Lullaby ripple: broken chord 1-5-8-5-8-5 (3/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Dark Sky Island 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.