Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Deep River Woman on piano
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 72 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Deep River Woman in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Db – Ab – Cm – Bbm
How it goes
Deep River Woman sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Db is Db, F and Ab; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Cm is C, Eb and G; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DbIVAbICmiiiBbmii- DbDb · F · Ab
- AbAb · C · Eb
- CmC · Eb · G
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 72 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: Ab – Gb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are I – bVII – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbGbAb- GbGb · Bb · Db
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Questions about Deep River Woman
What chords are in Deep River Woman?
The loop is Db – Ab – Cm – Bbm (IV – I – iii – ii) in Ab major, and the song ends on Ab – Gb – Ab.
What key is Deep River Woman in?
Ab major, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Deep River Woman?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Deep River Woman 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.