Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Somebody’s On My Mind on piano
Written by Billie Holiday & Arthur Herzog Jr.
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 1947
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Somebody’s On My Mind in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – F7 – Cbm – Fb7
How it goes
Somebody’s On My Mind sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Cbm is Cb, Ebb and Gb; Fb7 is Fb, Ab, Cb and Ebb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmiiiF7VI7CbmbiiiFb7bVI7- CmC · Eb · G
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- CbmCb · Ebb · Gb
- Fb7Fb · Ab · Cb · Ebb
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
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Questions about Somebody’s On My Mind
What chords are in Somebody’s On My Mind?
The loop is Cm – F7 – Cbm – Fb7 (iii – VI7 – biii – bVI7) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Somebody’s On My Mind in?
Ab major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Somebody’s On My Mind?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Somebody’s On My Mind 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.