Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Solitary Man on piano
Artist unknown
- G major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- V–vi–V–vi loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Solitary Man in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – Em – D – Em
How it goes
Solitary Man sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DVEmviDVEmvi- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sleep-in chords
How it goes
Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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 – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Solitary Man
What chords are in Solitary Man?
The loop is D – Em – D – Em (V – vi – V – vi) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Solitary Man in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Solitary Man?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Solitary 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.