Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Portrait of Jennie on piano
- Db major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- 1948
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Portrait of Jennie in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gbm – Cb7 – Fm – Bbm
How it goes
Portrait of Jennie sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gbm is Gb, Bbb and Db; Cb7 is Cb, Eb, Gb and Bbb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GbmivCb7bVII7FmiiiBbmvi- GbmGb · Bbb · Db
- Cb7Cb · Eb · Gb · Bbb
- FmF · Ab · C
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 BPM
How it goes
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: Ebm – Ab7 – Db
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbmAb7Db- EbmEb · Gb · Bb
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- DbDb · F · Ab
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Questions about Portrait of Jennie
What chords are in Portrait of Jennie?
The loop is Gbm – Cb7 – Fm – Bbm (iv – bVII7 – iii – vi) in Db major, and the song ends on Ebm – Ab7 – Db.
What key is Portrait of Jennie in?
Db major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Portrait of Jennie?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Portrait of Jennie 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.