Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Secret Agent Man on piano
Written by P.F. Sloan & Steve Barri
- E minor
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- i–bVI–i–bVI loop
- 1965
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Secret Agent Man in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – C – Em – C
How it goes
Secret Agent Man sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiCVIEmiCVI- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Bluesy shrug
How it goes
A long root, then down and back up to a bluesy note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 73 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 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: C – D – Em
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Secret Agent Man
What chords are in Secret Agent Man?
The loop is Em – C – Em – C (i – bVI – i – bVI) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Secret Agent Man in?
E minor, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Secret Agent Man?
Bluesy shrug: broken chord 8-5-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Secret Agent Man 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.