Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Duke on piano
By Dave Brubeck
- C major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1955
- Easy
Learn The Duke in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ebm – Dm – F – G
The Duke sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ebm is Eb, Gb and Bb; Dm is D, F and A; F is F, A and C; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbmbiiiDmiiFIVGV- EbmEb · Gb · Bb
- DmD · F · A
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Freeze-tag footsteps
Step, step-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 286 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Dm – G7 – C
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmG7C- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about The Duke
What chords are in The Duke?
The loop is Ebm – Dm – F – G (biii – ii – IV – V) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is The Duke in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Duke?
Freeze-tag footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Duke 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.