Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Isn't It A Pity? on piano
- C major
- 4/4
- 88 BPM
- Easy
Learn Isn't It A Pity? in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: B7 – Em – Asus4 – A7
Isn't It A Pity? sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B7 is B, D#, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; Asus4 is A, D and E; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
B7VII7EmiiiAsus4VIsus4A7VI7- B7B · D# · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- Asus4A · D · E
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 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: 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 88 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Isn't It A Pity?
What chords are in Isn't It A Pity??
The loop is B7 – Em – Asus4 – A7 (VII7 – iii – VIsus – VI7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Isn't It A Pity? in?
C major, at about 88 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Isn't It A Pity??
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 Isn't It A Pity? 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.