Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Miss Celie’s Pants on piano
Written by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & others
- E major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- I–IV–#ivo–I loop
- 2004
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Miss Celie’s Pants in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – A – A#dim – E
How it goes
Miss Celie’s Pants sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E; A#dim is A#, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIAIVA#dim#iv°EI- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- A#dimA# · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Double-step climb
How it goes
Two beats on the root, two on the next chord note up: simple and steady. Musicians call it broken chord 1-1-3-3 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 284 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- BB · D# · F#
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Questions about Miss Celie’s Pants
What chords are in Miss Celie’s Pants?
The loop is E – A – A#dim – E (I – IV – #ivo – I) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Miss Celie’s Pants in?
E major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Miss Celie’s Pants?
Double-step climb: broken chord 1-1-3-3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Miss Celie’s Pants 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.