Piano chords · Waltz garden
Gymnopedie No. 1: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Erik Satie
- B minor
- 3/4
- 78 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Gymnopedie No. 1 written out as piano music: the VI – III – VI – III loop in B minor for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays waltz ripple (broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4)), and the right hand sings the tune.
Gymnopedie No. 1 chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in B minor. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | VI | G B D |
| 2 | D | III | D F# A |
| 3 | G | VI | G B D |
| 4 | D | III | D F# A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: waltz ripple (broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4)) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the G – D – G – D chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
To see the real melody written out, play “The part you know”: the sheet music changes to it.
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Questions about Gymnopedie No. 1
Does the sheet music for Gymnopedie No. 1 have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Gymnopedie No. 1?
The loop is G – D – G – D (VI – III – VI – III) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.
What key is Gymnopedie No. 1 in?
B minor, at about 78 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Gymnopedie No. 1?
Waltz ripple: broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Gymnopedie No. 1 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Gymnopedie No. 1?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the opening of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.