Easy Living Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Easy Living in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Eb – C7 – Fm – Bb7 – Eb – Fm – Eb – Eb – Bb7 – Eb
Easy Living sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 10 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIC7VI7FmiiBb7V7EbIFmiiEbIEbIBb7V7EbI
- EbEb · G · Bb
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
22 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Marching giant
Thick three-note chords on every beat, rocking between two shapes. Musicians call it lh triads (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Marching giantLeft-hand chords · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Soft chordsBlock chords · BalladRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 90 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: Eb – Bb7 – Eb
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbBb7Eb

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Questions about Easy Living

What chords are in Easy Living?

The loop is Eb – C7 – Fm – Bb7 – Eb – Fm – Eb – Eb – Bb7 – Eb (I – VI7 – ii – V7 – I – ii – I – V7 – I – VI7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Bb7 – Eb.

What key is Easy Living in?

Eb major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Easy Living?

Marching giant: lh triads, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Easy Living easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 10 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Easy Living?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.

Learn Easy Living in 5 steps

Chords: Eb – C7 – Fm – Bb7 – Eb – Fm – Eb – Eb – Bb7 – Eb

Left hand: Marching giant

Right hand: Soft chords

Both hands at 90 BPM

Ending: Eb – Bb7 – Eb

Play next

The same I–VI7–ii–V7 loop

The same left hand: Marching giant

More by Billie Holiday

Questions about Easy Living