Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play The Night Chicago Died on piano
Written by Mitch Murray
- C major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–ii–V7–I loop
- 1974
- Easy
Learn The Night Chicago Died in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Dm – G7 – C
The Night Chicago Died sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIDmiiG7V7CI- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 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 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
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Questions about The Night Chicago Died
What chords are in The Night Chicago Died?
The loop is C – Dm – G7 – C (I – ii – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is The Night Chicago Died in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Night Chicago Died?
Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Night Chicago Died 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.