Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Eleanor Rigby on piano
By The Beatles
- E minor
- 4/4
- 137 BPM
- 1966
- Easy
Learn Eleanor Rigby in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – D – Em7 – C – Em – Em
Eleanor Rigby sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: C is C, E and G; D is D, F# and A; Em7 is E, G, B and D; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CVIDVIIEm7i7CVIEmiEmi- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- Em7E · G · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: Sleep-in chords
Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 137 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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm
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Questions about Eleanor Rigby
What chords are in Eleanor Rigby?
The loop is C – D – Em7 – C – Em – Em (VI – VII – i7 – VI – i – VI) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Eleanor Rigby in?
E minor, at about 137 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Eleanor Rigby?
Marching giant: lh triads, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Eleanor Rigby 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 Eleanor Rigby?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.