Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Kum Ba Yah on piano
- C major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Kum Ba Yah in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – F – F#dim
How it goes
Kum Ba Yah sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; F#dim is F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIFIVF#dim#iv°- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- F#dimF# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
How it goes
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 130 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
Play next
Questions about Kum Ba Yah
What chords are in Kum Ba Yah?
The loop is G7 – C – F – F#dim (V7 – I – IV – #ivo) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Kum Ba Yah in?
C major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Kum Ba Yah?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Kum Ba Yah 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.