Norwegian Wood Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Norwegian Wood in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: E – Bm7 – A – E – Bm7 – A – E
How it goes
Norwegian Wood sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: E is E, G# and B; Bm7 is B, D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIBm7v7AIVEIBm7v7AIVEI
- EE · G# · B
- Bm7B · D · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
16 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Moon River roll
How it goes
A wide, flowing roll in three, the Moon River feel. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4) (open arpeggio), a medium pattern heard in 441 songs of the library.
Moon River rollOpen arpeggio · WaltzLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: Waltz chords
How it goes
A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz chordsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 72 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#

What chords are in Norwegian Wood?

The loop is E – Bm7 – A – E – Bm7 – A – E (I – v7 – IV – I – v7 – IV – I) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.

What key is Norwegian Wood in?

E major, at about 72 beats a minute in 12/8.

What does the left hand play in Norwegian Wood?

Moon River roll: open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Norwegian Wood easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 7 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.

Can I hear the real melody of Norwegian Wood?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.