Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Five Brothers on piano
By Gerry Mulligan
- C major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- 1949
- Easy
Learn Five Brothers in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gm – C7 – F – Bb7
Five Brothers sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmvC7I7FIVBb7bVII7- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 160 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: D7 – G7 – C
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D7G7C- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about Five Brothers
What chords are in Five Brothers?
The loop is Gm – C7 – F – Bb7 (v – I7 – IV – bVII7) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is Five Brothers in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Five Brothers?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Five Brothers 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.