Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Lilac Wine on piano
By Katie Melua
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 66 BPM
- I–IV–V7–I loop
- 1973
- Easy
Learn Lilac Wine in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Eb – F7 – Bb
Lilac Wine sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIEbIVF7V7BbI- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 66 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: Cm – F7 – Bb
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CmF7Bb- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about Lilac Wine
What chords are in Lilac Wine?
The loop is Bb – Eb – F7 – Bb (I – IV – V7 – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on Cm – F7 – Bb.
What key is Lilac Wine in?
Bb major, at about 66 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Lilac Wine?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Lilac Wine 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.