Journey Down The Nile Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Journey Down The Nile in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Bm – G – Bm – G
Journey Down The Nile sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmviGIVBmviGIV
- BmB · D · F#
- GG · B · D
41 songs go round the same chords
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.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pop stabs
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pop stabsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in Journey Down The Nile?

The loop is Bm – G – Bm – G (vi – IV – vi – IV) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is Journey Down The Nile in?

D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Journey Down The Nile?

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 Journey Down The Nile 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.