Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Hernando's Hideaway on piano
By Richard Adler
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- III7–vi–III7–vi loop
- 1954
- Easy
Learn Hernando's Hideaway in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – Fm – C7 – Fm
Hernando's Hideaway sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7III7FmviC7III7Fmvi- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: Db – Eb – Ab
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
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Questions about Hernando's Hideaway
What chords are in Hernando's Hideaway?
The loop is C7 – Fm – C7 – Fm (III7 – vi – III7 – vi) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Hernando's Hideaway in?
Ab major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hernando's Hideaway?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hernando's Hideaway 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.