Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Roxanne on piano
By The Police
- G minor
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 1978
- Easy
Learn Roxanne in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm – Dm – Ebmaj7 – Dm
Roxanne sits in G minor: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; Ebmaj7 is Eb, G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmvDmvEbmaj7VImaj7Dmv- DmD · F · A
- Ebmaj7Eb · G · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 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.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: Eb – F – Gm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFGm- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
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Questions about Roxanne
What chords are in Roxanne?
The loop is Dm – Dm – Ebmaj7 – Dm (v – VImaj7 – v – VImaj7) in G minor, and the song ends on Eb – F – Gm.
What key is Roxanne in?
G minor, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Roxanne?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Roxanne 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 Roxanne?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro 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.