Piano chords · Lullaby boat
How to play Nights In White Satin on piano
By The Moody Blues
- E minor
- 2/4
- 66 BPM
- i–bVII–i–bVII loop
- 1967
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Nights In White Satin in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – D – Em – D
How it goes
Nights In White Satin sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiDVIIEmiDVII- EmE · G · B
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Cradle pulse
How it goes
A deep note, a rock to beat two, a soft pickup back: like a cradle. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2.3 (6/8) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 160 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 66 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: C – D – Em
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
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Questions about Nights In White Satin
What chords are in Nights In White Satin?
The loop is Em – D – Em – D (i – bVII – i – bVII) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Nights In White Satin in?
E minor, at about 66 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in Nights In White Satin?
Cradle pulse: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2.3 (6/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Nights In White Satin 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 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.