Flow Gently, Sweet Afton Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Flow Gently, Sweet Afton in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – C – G – C
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GICIVGICIV
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
782 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Moon River roll
A wide, flowing roll in three, the Moon River feel. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4) (open arpeggio), a medium pattern heard in 441 songs of the library.
Moon River rollOpen arpeggio · WaltzLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: Waltz chords
A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz chordsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 84 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 – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in Flow Gently, Sweet Afton?

The loop is G – C – G – C (I – IV – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Flow Gently, Sweet Afton in?

G major, at about 84 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Flow Gently, Sweet Afton?

Moon River roll: open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Flow Gently, Sweet Afton 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.