Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Song Of The Volga Boatman on piano
Artist unknown
- D minor
- 4/4
- 72 BPM
- iv–i–iv–i loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Song Of The Volga Boatman in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gm – Dm – Gm – Dm
How it goes
Song Of The Volga Boatman sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmivDmiGmivDmi- GmG · Bb · D
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
How it goes
Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 72 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
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Song Of The Volga Boatman
What chords are in Song Of The Volga Boatman?
The loop is Gm – Dm – Gm – Dm (iv – i – iv – i) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Song Of The Volga Boatman in?
D minor, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Song Of The Volga Boatman?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Song Of The Volga Boatman 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.