Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Dream Lover on piano
Written by Bobby Darin
- C major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- 1959
- Easy
Learn Dream Lover in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Am7 – Am – Am – Am7 – C
Dream Lover sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: C is C, E and G; Am7 is A, C, E and G; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIAm7vi7AmviAmviAm7vi7CI- CC · E · G
- Am7A · C · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: D7 – G7 – C
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D7G7C- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
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Questions about Dream Lover
What chords are in Dream Lover?
The loop is C – Am7 – Am – Am – Am7 – C (I – vi7 – vi – vi7 – I – vi7) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is Dream Lover in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Dream Lover?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dream Lover easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 6 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Dream Lover?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.