Moody River Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Moody River in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: F – Dm – F – Dm
Moody River sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIDmviFIDmvi
- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
135 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Giant steps
A full chord on every beat, low and heavy, like a giant walking. Musicians call it lh chords (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Giant stepsLeft-hand chords · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hopscotch chordsBlock chords · StrideRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 135 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Moody River?

The loop is F – Dm – F – Dm (I – vi – I – vi) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Moody River in?

F major, at about 135 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Moody River?

Giant steps: lh chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Moody River 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.