Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play El Día De Suerte on piano
Written by Willie Colon & Héctor Lavoe
- C minor
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- i–V7–i–V7 loop
- 1973
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn El Día De Suerte in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – G7 – Cm – G7
How it goes
El Día De Suerte sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmiG7V7CmiG7V7- CmC · Eb · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Island zigzag
How it goes
A jump up, then down past the start, in the three-three-two rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Skip-and-stroll chords
How it goes
A skippy push at the start, then calm chords on 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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 – Cm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about El Día De Suerte
What chords are in El Día De Suerte?
The loop is Cm – G7 – Cm – G7 (i – V7 – i – V7) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is El Día De Suerte in?
C minor, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in El Día De Suerte?
Island zigzag: broken chord 8-12-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is El Día De Suerte 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.