Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Rikki Don't Lose That Number on piano
By Steely Dan
- F major
- 4/4
- 105 BPM
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Rikki Don't Lose That Number in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bbsus4 – Bb7 – Fsus4 – F7
How it goes
Rikki Don't Lose That Number sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bbsus4 is Bb, Eb and F; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Fsus4 is F, Bb and C; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bbsus4IVsus4Bb7IV7Fsus4Isus4F7I7- Bbsus4Bb · Eb · F
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- Fsus4F · Bb · C
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hand-clap chords
How it goes
Rests on beat 1, then clap-clap on 2 and one more clap on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 105 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 – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
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Questions about Rikki Don't Lose That Number
What chords are in Rikki Don't Lose That Number?
The loop is Bbsus4 – Bb7 – Fsus4 – F7 (IVsus – IV7 – Isus – I7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Rikki Don't Lose That Number in?
F major, at about 105 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Rikki Don't Lose That Number?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Rikki Don't Lose That Number 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.