Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play ’round Midnight on piano
- D# minor
- 2/2
- 90 BPM
- 1944
- Easy
Learn ’round Midnight in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am7 – Am7 – D7 – D7
’round Midnight sits in D# minor: D# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am7 is A, C, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Am7#iv7Am7#iv7D7VII7D7VII7- Am7A · C · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Skipping-stone pulse
One strong note, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 282 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
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 90 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: D# – A#7 – D#
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D#A#7D#- D#D# · F## · A#
- A#7A# · C## · E# · G#
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Questions about ’round Midnight
What chords are in ’round Midnight?
The loop is Am7 – Am7 – D7 – D7 (#iv7 – VII7 – #iv7 – VII7) in D# minor, and the song ends on D# – A#7 – D#.
What key is ’round Midnight in?
D# minor, at about 90 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in ’round Midnight?
Skipping-stone pulse: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is ’round Midnight 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.
Can I hear the real melody of ’round Midnight?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.