Piano chords · Rock drive

How to play Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt on piano

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Learn Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Em7 – Bm7 – F#m7 – A7 – D – B – Em7 – A
How it goes
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Em7 is E, G, B and D; Bm7 is B, D, F# and A; F#m7 is F#, A, C# and E; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A; B is B, D# and F#; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Em7vi7Bm7iii7F#m7vii7A7II7DVBIIIEm7vi7AII
- Em7E · G · B · D
- Bm7B · D · F# · A
- F#m7F# · A · C# · E
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- BB · D# · F#
- AA · C# · E
2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Heartbeat octavesRocking octaves · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 132 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D

What chords are in Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt?

The loop is Em7 – Bm7 – F#m7 – A7 – D – B – Em7 – A (vi7 – iii7 – vii7 – II7 – V – III – vi7 – II) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt in?

G major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt?

Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik ("Serenade"), First Movement Excerpt?

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

Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.