Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo on piano
By Bronislau Kaper
- F major
- 3/4
- 160 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gm – F – C7 – F
How it goes
Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; F is F, A and C; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmiiFIC7V7FI- GmG · Bb · D
- FF · A · C
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Waltz seesaw
How it goes
One low note, then two higher ones: oom-pah-pah with single notes. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5 (3/4) (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 74 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Waltz chords
How it goes
A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
What chords are in Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo?
The loop is Gm – F – C7 – F (ii – I – V7 – I) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo in?
F major, at about 160 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo?
Waltz seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-5 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.