Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Ratcliffe Highway on piano
By John Harle & Marc Almond
- D minor
- 3/4
- 140 BPM
- i–bVII–i–bVII loop
- 2014
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Ratcliffe Highway in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm – C – Dm – C
How it goes
Ratcliffe Highway sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmiCVIIDmiCVII- DmD · F · A
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sleepy waltz chords
How it goes
A long chord, then a double on beat 3: a lazy, rocking waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: Bb – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Ratcliffe Highway
What chords are in Ratcliffe Highway?
The loop is Dm – C – Dm – C (i – bVII – i – bVII) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Ratcliffe Highway in?
D minor, at about 140 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Ratcliffe Highway?
Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Ratcliffe Highway 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.