Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Dust In The Wind on piano
By Kansas
- A minor
- 4/4
- 84 BPM
- 1977
- Easy
Learn Dust In The Wind in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – G – Am – G – Dm7 – Am
Dust In The Wind sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E; Dm7 is D, F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIIIGVIIAmiGVIIDm7iv7Ami- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- Dm7D · F · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 84 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: F – G – Am
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm- FF · A · C
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Questions about Dust In The Wind
What chords are in Dust In The Wind?
The loop is C – G – Am – G – Dm7 – Am (III – VII – i – VII – iv7 – i) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.
What key is Dust In The Wind in?
A minor, at about 84 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Dust In The Wind?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dust In The Wind 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 Dust In The Wind?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.