Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on piano
By The Beatles
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- I–V7–I–I7 loop
- 1968
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – F7 – Bb – Bb7
How it goes
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIF7V7BbIBb7I7- BbBb · D · F
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
How it goes
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 130 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: Bb – F7 – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbF7Bb
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Questions about Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
What chords are in Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da?
The loop is Bb – F7 – Bb – Bb7 (I – V7 – I – I7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Bb – F7 – Bb.
What key is Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da in?
Bb major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 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 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.