Tonight Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Tonight in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Cm – Eb – Bb – Fm
How it goes
Tonight sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmviEbIBbVFmii
- CmC · Eb · G
- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- FmF · Ab · C
12 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Fluttering heartbeat
How it goes
A quick flutter before beat 2, then a push before beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 152 songs of the library.
Fluttering heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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
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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb
- AbAb · C · Eb

What chords are in Tonight?

The loop is Cm – Eb – Bb – Fm (vi – I – V – ii) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.

What key is Tonight in?

Eb major, at about 126 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Tonight?

Fluttering heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Tonight 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.

Can I hear the real melody of Tonight?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.