Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Dennis The Menace on piano
By William Loose
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- I–IV–I–V7 loop
- 1959
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Dennis The Menace in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Db – Ab – Eb7
How it goes
Dennis The Menace sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Db is Db, F and Ab; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIDbIVAbIEb7V7- AbAb · C · Eb
- DbDb · F · Ab
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Bluesy shrug
How it goes
A long root, then down and back up to a bluesy note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 73 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
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 130 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: Bbm – Eb7 – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbmEb7Ab- BbmBb · Db · F
Play next
Questions about Dennis The Menace
What chords are in Dennis The Menace?
The loop is Ab – Db – Ab – Eb7 (I – IV – I – V7) in Ab major, and the song ends on Bbm – Eb7 – Ab.
What key is Dennis The Menace in?
Ab major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Dennis The Menace?
Bluesy shrug: broken chord 8-5-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dennis The Menace 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.