Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Deep River on piano
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- 1996
- Easy
Learn Deep River in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Bb7 – Eb – Fm
Deep River sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIBb7V7EbIFmii- EbEb · G · Bb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- FmF · Ab · C
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: Eb – Fm – Eb
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFmEb
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Questions about Deep River
What chords are in Deep River?
The loop is Eb – Bb7 – Eb – Fm (I – V7 – I – ii) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Fm – Eb.
What key is Deep River in?
Eb major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Deep River?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Deep River 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 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.