The Ugly Duckling Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Ugly Duckling in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: D7 – G – G#dim – Am
How it goes
The Ugly Duckling sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D; G#dim is G#, B and D; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7V7GIG#dimbii°Amii
- D7D · F# · A · C
- GG · B · D
- G#dimG# · B · D
- AmA · C · E
17 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Gentle rocking
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, fifth: the gentle rocking under countless pop ballads. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 696 songs of the library.
Gentle rockingBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
How it goes
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hopscotch chordsBlock chords · StrideRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 132 BPM
How it goes
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: G – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GD7G

What chords are in The Ugly Duckling?

The loop is D7 – G – G#dim – Am (V7 – I – biio – ii) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.

What key is The Ugly Duckling in?

G major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Ugly Duckling?

Gentle rocking: broken chord 1-5-8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Ugly Duckling 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.