Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
Mellow Yellow: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Donovan
- D major
- 12/8
- 160 BPM
- IV–V–I–IV loop
- Easy
Mellow Yellow written out as piano music: the IV – V – I – IV loop in D major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays slow-dance heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8)) and the right hand slow-dance chords.
Mellow Yellow chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in D major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | IV | G B D |
| 2 | A | V | A C# E |
| 3 | D | I | D F# A |
| 4 | G | IV | G B D |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: slow-dance heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8)) in the left hand and slow-dance chords in the right, over the G – A – D – G chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about Mellow Yellow
Does the sheet music for Mellow Yellow have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Mellow Yellow?
The loop is G – A – D – G (IV – V – I – IV) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Mellow Yellow in?
D major, at about 160 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Mellow Yellow?
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 Mellow Yellow 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.