Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Joanna on piano
By Scott Walker
- Db major
- 4/4
- 68 BPM
- 1968
- Easy
Learn Joanna in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Ebm – Edim – Fm
Joanna sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Ebm is Eb, Gb and Bb; Edim is 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.
Bb7VI7EbmiiEdimbiii°Fmiii- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbmEb · Gb · Bb
- EdimE · 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: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 68 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: Gb – Ab – Db
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbAbDb- GbGb · Bb · Db
- AbAb · C · Eb
- DbDb · F · Ab
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Questions about Joanna
What chords are in Joanna?
The loop is Bb7 – Ebm – Edim – Fm (VI7 – ii – biiio – iii) in Db major, and the song ends on Gb – Ab – Db.
What key is Joanna in?
Db major, at about 68 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Joanna?
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 Joanna 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.