Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
Philadelphia: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Neil Young
- Bb major
- 12/8
- 120 BPM
- IV–V–I–vi loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Philadelphia written out as piano music: the IV – V – I – vi loop in Bb major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays rocking chair (rocking octaves (12/8)) and the right hand slow-dance chords.
Philadelphia chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in Bb major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eb | IV | Eb G Bb |
| 2 | F | V | F A C |
| 3 | Bb | I | Bb D F |
| 4 | Gm | vi | G Bb D |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: rocking chair (rocking octaves (12/8)) in the left hand and slow-dance chords in the right, over the Eb – F – Bb – Gm chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about Philadelphia
Does the sheet music for Philadelphia have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Philadelphia?
The loop is Eb – F – Bb – Gm (IV – V – I – vi) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Philadelphia in?
Bb major, at about 120 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Philadelphia?
Rocking chair: rocking octaves (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Philadelphia 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.