Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Tiny Dancer on piano
By Elton John
- C major
- 2/2
- 132 BPM
- Medium
Learn Tiny Dancer in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Em – Dm – Dm – Em7
Tiny Dancer sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: F is F, A and C; Em is E, G and B; Dm is D, F and A; Em7 is E, G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVEmiiiDmiiDmiiEm7iii7- FF · A · C
- EmE · G · B
- DmD · F · A
- Em7E · G · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hurrying chords
Calm chords in the first half, then twice as fast to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 132 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: C – F – C
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC- CC · E · G
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Questions about Tiny Dancer
What chords are in Tiny Dancer?
The loop is F – Em – Dm – Dm – Em7 (IV – iii – ii – iii7 – IV) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is Tiny Dancer in?
C major, at about 132 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Tiny Dancer?
Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Tiny Dancer easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 5 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Tiny Dancer?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.