Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play The Last Farewell on piano
By Roger Whittaker
- Eb major
- 12/8
- 126 BPM
- 1971
- Easy
Learn The Last Farewell in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Gb – Eb – Gb
The Last Farewell sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Gb is Gb, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIGbbIIIEbIGbbIII- EbEb · G · Bb
- GbGb · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Yo-yo bounce
A long high root, a dip down, and back up like a yo-yo. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 126 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
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
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Questions about The Last Farewell
What chords are in The Last Farewell?
The loop is Eb – Gb – Eb – Gb (I – bIII – I – bIII) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is The Last Farewell in?
Eb major, at about 126 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in The Last Farewell?
Yo-yo bounce: broken chord 8-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Last Farewell 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.