Parisian Thoroughfare Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Parisian Thoroughfare in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: F – Gm – Am – Bb
Parisian Thoroughfare sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D; Am is A, C and E; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIGmiiAmiiiBbIV
- FF · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- AmA · C · E
- BbBb · D · F
16 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
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.
Velvet jazzLeft-hand chords · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pop stabs
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pop stabsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Parisian Thoroughfare?

The loop is F – Gm – Am – Bb (I – ii – iii – IV) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Parisian Thoroughfare in?

F major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Parisian Thoroughfare?

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 Parisian Thoroughfare 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.