How to play Les Champs-Élysées on piano

By Joe Dassin

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Les Champs-Élysées in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: E – B – C#m – E7
Les Champs-Élysées sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; B is B, D# and F#; C#m is C#, E and G#; E7 is E, G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIBVC#mviE7I7
- EE · G# · B
- BB · D# · F#
- C#mC# · E · G#
- E7E · G# · B · D
2
Left hand: Slow-dance heartbeat
Four slow, deep beats under a swaying fifties ballad. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 134 songs of the library.
Slow-dance heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · 50s doo-wopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Slow-dance chords
Four slow chords per bar under a swaying fifties ballad. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Slow-dance chordsSyncopated chords · 50s doo-wopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in Les Champs-Élysées?

The loop is E – B – C#m – E7 (I – V – vi – I7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.

What key is Les Champs-Élysées in?

E major, at about 160 beats a minute in 12/8.

What does the left hand play in Les Champs-Élysées?

Slow-dance heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Les Champs-Élysées 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.