Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Malagueña on piano
Artist unknown
- C major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- Easy
Learn Malagueña in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – A – Bb – A
Malagueña sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbbVIIAVIBbbVIIAVI- BbBb · D · F
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Stair steps
Three notes climb up the chord in the island rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 438 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Malagueña
What chords are in Malagueña?
The loop is Bb – A – Bb – A (bVII – VI – bVII – VI) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Malagueña in?
C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Malagueña?
Stair steps: broken chord 1-3-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Malagueña 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.