Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Hey Jude on piano
By The Beatles
- F major
- 4/4
- 63 BPM
- 1968
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hey Jude in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Bb – Fsus4 – Fsus4
How it goes
Hey Jude sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Fsus4 is F, Bb and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbbVIIBbIVFsus4Isus4Fsus4Isus4- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- Fsus4F · Bb · C
- 2
Left hand: Hurry-and-wait pulse
How it goes
Three quick notes rush out early, then the bass waits for the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 336 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
How it goes
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 63 BPM
How it goes
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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
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Questions about Hey Jude
What chords are in Hey Jude?
The loop is Eb – Bb – Fsus4 – Fsus4 (bVII – IV – Isus4 – bVII) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Hey Jude in?
F major, at about 63 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hey Jude?
Hurry-and-wait pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hey Jude 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 Hey Jude?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 9 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.