How to play Edelweiss on piano

Learn Edelweiss in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: F7 – Bb – F7 – Bb
Edelweiss sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F7V7BbIF7V7BbI
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
414 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Moon River roll
A wide, flowing roll in three, the Moon River feel. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4) (open arpeggio), a medium pattern heard in 441 songs of the library.
Moon River rollOpen arpeggio · WaltzLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: Waltz bells
A single high note, then two chords: ding, dong, dong in three. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz bellsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 108 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 – F7 – Bb
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbF7Bb
- EbEb · G · Bb

What chords are in Edelweiss?

The loop is F7 – Bb – F7 – Bb (V7 – I – V7 – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F7 – Bb.

What key is Edelweiss in?

Bb major, at about 108 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Edelweiss?

Moon River roll: open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Edelweiss easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.