Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Mambo No. 5 on piano
Written by Damaso Perez Prado
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1948
- Easy
Learn Mambo No. 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
Mambo No. 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: Double-tap drop
The same note twice, long then short, then a drop to a lower note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 336 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Run-up chords
Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: Eb – Bb7 – Eb
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbBb7Eb
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Questions about Mambo No. 5
What chords are in Mambo No. 5?
The loop is Bb7 – Eb – Bb7 – Eb (V7 – I – V7 – I) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Bb7 – Eb.
What key is Mambo No. 5 in?
Eb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Mambo No. 5?
Double-tap drop: broken chord 8-8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mambo No. 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.