Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Penny Lane on piano
By The Beatles
- C major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 1967
- Easy
Learn Penny Lane in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – Ab – G7 – Dm7 – G7
Penny Lane sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: Am is A, C and E; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; G7 is G, B, D and F; Dm7 is D, F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviAbbVIG7V7Dm7ii7G7V7- AmA · C · E
- AbAb · C · Eb
- G7G · B · D · F
- Dm7D · F · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Giant steps
A full chord on every beat, low and heavy, like a giant walking. Musicians call it lh chords (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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 – F – C
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
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Questions about Penny Lane
What chords are in Penny Lane?
The loop is Am – Ab – G7 – Dm7 – G7 (vi – bVI – V7 – ii7 – V7) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is Penny Lane in?
C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Penny Lane?
Giant steps: lh chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Penny Lane easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Penny Lane?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 7 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.