Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Oh, Pretty Woman on piano
By Roy Orbison
- A major
- 4/4
- 132 BPM
- 1964
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Oh, Pretty Woman in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – F#m – Dm – E
How it goes
Oh, Pretty Woman sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; F#m is F#, A and C#; Dm is D, F and A; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIF#mviDmivEV- AA · C# · E
- F#mF# · A · C#
- DmD · F · A
- EE · G# · B
- 2
Left hand: Bossa seesaw
How it goes
Low-low, high-high in a laid-back Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-1-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 428 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Lingering chords
How it goes
Two chords, then a late one after beat 3 that hangs in the air. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 132 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: D – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Oh, Pretty Woman
What chords are in Oh, Pretty Woman?
The loop is A – F#m – Dm – E (I – vi – iv – V) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Oh, Pretty Woman in?
A major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Oh, Pretty Woman?
Bossa seesaw: root–fifth 1-1-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Oh, Pretty Woman 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 Oh, Pretty Woman?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.