Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Mr. Blue Sky on piano
Written by Jeff Lynne
- F major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- 1977
- Easy
Learn Mr. Blue Sky in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Bb – F – Gm7
Mr. Blue Sky sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Bb is Bb, D and F; Gm7 is G, Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIBbIVFIGm7ii7- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
- Gm7G · Bb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. 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 – Bb – F
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbBbF- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Mr. Blue Sky
What chords are in Mr. Blue Sky?
The loop is F – Bb – F – Gm7 (I – IV – I – ii7) in F major, and the song ends on Eb – Bb – F.
What key is Mr. Blue Sky in?
F major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Mr. Blue Sky?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mr. Blue Sky 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Mr. Blue Sky?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.