Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Paloma Blanca on piano
By Hans Bouwens
- C major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1975
- Easy
Learn Paloma Blanca in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – F
Paloma Blanca sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIFIV- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: C – G – C
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Paloma Blanca
What chords are in Paloma Blanca?
The loop is C – F – C – F (I – IV – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on C – G – C.
What key is Paloma Blanca in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Paloma Blanca?
Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Paloma Blanca 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.