Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Peppermint Twist on piano
Artist unknown
- C major
- 2/2
- 140 BPM
- I–IV7–I–V7 loop
- Easy
Learn Peppermint Twist in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F7 – C – G7
Peppermint Twist sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIF7IV7CIG7V7- CC · E · G
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Island zigzag
A jump up, then down past the start, in the three-three-two rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 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 140 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Peppermint Twist
What chords are in Peppermint Twist?
The loop is C – F7 – C – G7 (I – IV7 – I – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Peppermint Twist in?
C major, at about 140 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Peppermint Twist?
Island zigzag: broken chord 8-12-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Peppermint Twist 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.