Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Mambo #5 on piano
By Perez Prado And His Orchestra
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1948
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Mambo #5 in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb – Bb7 – Eb
How it goes
Mambo #5 sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7V7EbIBb7V7EbI- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Fiesta bounce
How it goes
A long fifth, then high root and low root: a happy fiesta bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 5-8-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 119 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Mouse-run chords
How it goes
Skips beat 1, scurries through four quick chords, then hides. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Mambo #5
What chords are in Mambo #5?
The loop is Bb7 – Eb – Bb7 – Eb (V7 – I – V7 – I) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Mambo #5 in?
Eb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Mambo #5?
Fiesta bounce: broken chord 5-8-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mambo #5 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.