Yardbird Suite Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Yardbird Suite in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – Db – C – Db
Yardbird Suite sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIDbbIICIDbbII
- CC · E · G
- DbDb · F · Ab
16 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Stride jumps
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
Stride jumpsStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Push chordsSyncopated chords · RockRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F

What chords are in Yardbird Suite?

The loop is C – Db – C – Db (I – bII – I – bII) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.

What key is Yardbird Suite in?

C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Yardbird Suite?

Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Yardbird Suite 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.