Godfather II Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Godfather II in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Gm – Cm – Gm – Cm
Godfather II sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; Cm is C, Eb and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmiCmivGmiCmiv
- GmG · Bb · D
- CmC · Eb · G
68 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Rising tide
Five notes roll up wide and high, then hold: a tide coming in. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-8-10-12 (open arpeggio), a medium pattern heard in 187 songs of the library.
Rising tideOpen arpeggio · Film scoreLeft handMedium
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 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
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D

What chords are in Godfather II?

The loop is Gm – Cm – Gm – Cm (i – iv – i – iv) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Godfather II in?

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

What does the left hand play in Godfather II?

Rising tide: open arpeggio 1-5-8-10-12, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Godfather II 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.