Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Tristeza on piano
Artist unknown
- D major
- 2/4
- 90 BPM
- Medium
Learn Tristeza in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – A7 – D – D7
Tristeza sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiiA7V7DID7I7- EmE · G · B
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Toy-soldier march
A bright two-note chord, then the low root: a toy soldier’s left-right. Musicians call it lh triads (2/4) (left-hand chords), a medium pattern heard in 205 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 90 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Tristeza
What chords are in Tristeza?
The loop is Em – A7 – D – D7 (ii – V7 – I – I7) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Tristeza in?
D major, at about 90 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in Tristeza?
Toy-soldier march: lh triads (2/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Tristeza 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.