Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Harlem Nocturne on piano
By Earle Hagen
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 1940
- Easy
Learn Harlem Nocturne in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Fm – Bb7 – Fm
Harlem Nocturne sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7I7FmvBb7I7Fmv- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- FmF · Ab · C
- 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: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Harlem Nocturne
What chords are in Harlem Nocturne?
The loop is Bb7 – Fm – Bb7 – Fm (I7 – v – I7 – v) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Harlem Nocturne in?
Bb major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Harlem Nocturne?
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 Harlem Nocturne 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.