Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Once In A Lifetime on piano
Artist unknown
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- Easy
Learn Once In A Lifetime in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Bb7 – Eb – Bbm
Once In A Lifetime sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmiiBb7V7EbIBbmv- FmF · Ab · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Lazy seesaw
A low note, a higher one, a gap, then the higher one again. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 520 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 100 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Once In A Lifetime
What chords are in Once In A Lifetime?
The loop is Fm – Bb7 – Eb – Bbm (ii – V7 – I – v) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Once In A Lifetime in?
Eb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Once In A Lifetime?
Lazy seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Once In A Lifetime 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.