Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue on piano
Written by Richard Leigh
- C major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–vi–ii–V7 loop
- 1976
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Am – Dm – G7
How it goes
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIAmviDmiiG7V7- CC · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
How it goes
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 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 100 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: Dm – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmG7C
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Questions about Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
What chords are in Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?
The loop is C – Am – Dm – G7 (I – vi – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?
Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue 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.