Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Sophisticated Lady on piano
- Ab major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- 1933
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Sophisticated Lady in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bbm – Gb7 – F7 – Fb7
How it goes
Sophisticated Lady sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bbm is Bb, Db and F; Gb7 is Gb, Bb, Db and Fb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Fb7 is Fb, Ab, Cb and Ebb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbmiiGb7bVII7F7VI7Fb7bVI7- BbmBb · Db · F
- Gb7Gb · Bb · Db · Fb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 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: Run-up chords
How it goes
Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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 Sophisticated Lady
What chords are in Sophisticated Lady?
The loop is Bbm – Gb7 – F7 – Fb7 (ii – bVII7 – VI7 – bVI7) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Sophisticated Lady in?
Ab major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Sophisticated Lady?
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 Sophisticated Lady 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.