Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play San Franciscan Nights on piano
By Eric Burdon & The Animals
- C major
- 3/2
- 100 BPM
- I–ii–IV–I loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn San Franciscan Nights in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Dm – F – C
How it goes
San Franciscan Nights sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIDmiiFIVCI- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Doorbell ding-dong
How it goes
Two high, two low, in a lazy push rhythm: ding-ding, dong-dong. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 472 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Dm – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are ii – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmFC
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Questions about San Franciscan Nights
What chords are in San Franciscan Nights?
The loop is C – Dm – F – C (I – ii – IV – I) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – F – C.
What key is San Franciscan Nights in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 3/2.
What does the left hand play in San Franciscan Nights?
Doorbell ding-dong: broken chord 8-8-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is San Franciscan Nights 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.