Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Scarborough Fair on piano
By Traditional
- D minor
- 3/4
- 130 BPM
- bVII–i–bVII–i loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Scarborough Fair in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Dm – C – Dm
How it goes
Scarborough Fair sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CVIIDmiCVIIDmi- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Waltz climb
How it goes
Three notes up the chord, one per beat: a gentle waltz climb. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (3/4) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 248 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 130 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 Scarborough Fair
What chords are in Scarborough Fair?
The loop is C – Dm – C – Dm (bVII – i – bVII – i) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Scarborough Fair in?
D minor, at about 130 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Scarborough Fair?
Waltz climb: broken chord 1-3-5 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Scarborough Fair 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.