Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play The Cisco Kid on piano
By War
- F major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- vi–iii–vi–iii loop
- 1972
- Easy
Learn The Cisco Kid in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm – Am – Dm – Am
The Cisco Kid sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmviAmiiiDmviAmiii- DmD · F · A
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Bluesy shrug
A long root, then down and back up to a bluesy note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 73 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
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 120 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
Play next
Questions about The Cisco Kid
What chords are in The Cisco Kid?
The loop is Dm – Am – Dm – Am (vi – iii – vi – iii) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is The Cisco Kid in?
F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Cisco Kid?
Bluesy shrug: broken chord 8-5-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Cisco Kid 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.