Piano chords · Blues & boogie

How to play Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head on piano

By B.J. Thomas

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: F – F – Am – F – Bb
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: F is F, A and C; 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.
FIFIAmiiiFIBbIV
- FF · A · C
- AmA · C · E
- BbBb · D · F
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: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 105 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: Gm – Bb – F
The last chords are ii – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmBbF
- GmG · Bb · D

What chords are in Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head?

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

What key is Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head in?

F major, at about 105 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head?

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 Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head 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 Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.