That Old Black Magic Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn That Old Black Magic in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Eb – Eb7 – Eb – Eb7
How it goes
That Old Black Magic sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIEb7I7EbIEb7I7
- EbEb · G · Bb
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
20 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Island zigzag
How it goes
A jump up, then down past the start, in the three-three-two rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
Island zigzagBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pop stabsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F

What chords are in That Old Black Magic?

The loop is Eb – Eb7 – Eb – Eb7 (I – I7 – I – I7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.

What key is That Old Black Magic in?

Eb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in That Old Black Magic?

Island zigzag: broken chord 8-12-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is That Old Black Magic 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.