Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play The Fields Of Athenry on piano
Written by Pete St. John
- F major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- V–I–IV–I loop
- 2006
- Medium
Learn The Fields Of Athenry in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – Bb – F
The Fields Of Athenry sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CVFIBbIVFI- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: River roll
Flows up five notes with a little step near the top, like a river. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-8-9-10 (open arpeggio), a medium pattern heard in 242 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push-and-land chords
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: Gm – C – F
The last chords are ii – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmCF- GmG · Bb · D
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Questions about The Fields Of Athenry
What chords are in The Fields Of Athenry?
The loop is C – F – Bb – F (V – I – IV – I) in F major, and the song ends on Gm – C – F.
What key is The Fields Of Athenry in?
F major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Fields Of Athenry?
River roll: open arpeggio 1-5-8-9-10, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Fields Of Athenry easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.