Serenade Portugaise Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Serenade Portugaise in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Gm – C7 – Gm – C7
How it goes
Serenade Portugaise sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmiiC7V7GmiiC7V7
- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb
136 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
How it goes
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Lazy footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hopscotch bellsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 80 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 – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C

What chords are in Serenade Portugaise?

The loop is Gm – C7 – Gm – C7 (ii – V7 – ii – V7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Serenade Portugaise in?

F major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Serenade Portugaise?

Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Serenade Portugaise 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.