Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Stella By Starlight on piano
By Ray Charles
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 150 BPM
- 1946
- Easy
Learn Stella By Starlight in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Ab7 – Bb – Ab7
Stella By Starlight sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIAb7bVII7BbIAb7bVII7- BbBb · D · F
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 150 BPM
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: Cm – F7 – Bb
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CmF7Bb- CmC · Eb · G
- F7F · A · C · Eb
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Questions about Stella By Starlight
What chords are in Stella By Starlight?
The loop is Bb – Ab7 – Bb – Ab7 (I – bVII7 – I – bVII7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Cm – F7 – Bb.
What key is Stella By Starlight in?
Bb major, at about 150 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Stella By Starlight?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Stella By Starlight 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.