Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Kansas City on piano
By Wilbert Harrison
- C major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- Easy
Learn Kansas City in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F7 – F7 – C – C
Kansas City sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F7 is F, A, C and Eb; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F7IV7F7IV7CICI- F7F · A · C · Eb
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll climb
Up three chord notes and one step past: the 1950s rock’n’roll climb. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5-6 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 204 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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
Play next
Questions about Kansas City
What chords are in Kansas City?
The loop is F7 – F7 – C – C (IV7 – I – IV7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Kansas City in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Kansas City?
Rock’n’roll climb: broken chord 1-3-5-6, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Kansas City 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 Kansas City?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the repeating figure of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.