Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Duke Of Earl on piano
By Gene Chandler
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 112 BPM
- I–vi–IV–V7 loop
- 1961
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Duke Of Earl in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Cm – Ab – Bb7
How it goes
Duke Of Earl sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Cm is C, Eb and G; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbICmviAbIVBb7V7- EbEb · G · Bb
- CmC · Eb · G
- AbAb · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Banana-peel slip
How it goes
Four steady beats on one note, then a quick slip down into the next bar. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-8-8-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 102 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
How it goes
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 112 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 – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Duke Of Earl
What chords are in Duke Of Earl?
The loop is Eb – Cm – Ab – Bb7 (I – vi – IV – V7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Duke Of Earl in?
Eb major, at about 112 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Duke Of Earl?
Banana-peel slip: broken chord 8-8-8-8-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Duke Of Earl 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.