Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Emily on piano
By Bill Evans
- C major
- 3/4
- 120 BPM
- 1964
- Medium
Learn Emily in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – Dm – Gsus4 – G7
Emily sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; Gsus4 is G, C and D; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7VI7DmiiGsus4Vsus4G7V7- A7A · C# · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- Gsus4G · C · D
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Waltz stride
A deep bass, a chord above, then the octave: a leaping waltz. Musicians call it stride (3/4) (stride & boom-chick), a medium pattern heard in 215 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about Emily
What chords are in Emily?
The loop is A7 – Dm – Gsus4 – G7 (VI7 – ii – Vsus – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Emily in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Emily?
Waltz stride: stride (3/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Emily 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.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.