Yellow Submarine Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Yellow Submarine in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D – D7 – G – Em – Am – D – Em7
Yellow Submarine sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: D is D, F# and A; D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E; Em7 is E, G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DVD7V7GIEmviAmiiDVEm7vi7
- DD · F# · A
- D7D · F# · A · C
- GG · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- Em7E · G · B · D
202 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
Ping-pong bounceBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Run-up chords
Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Run-up chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 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 – D – G
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GDG

What chords are in Yellow Submarine?

The loop is D – D7 – G – Em – Am – D – Em7 (V – V7 – I – vi – ii – V – vi7) in G major, and the song ends on G – D – G.

What key is Yellow Submarine in?

G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Yellow Submarine?

Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Yellow Submarine easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Yellow Submarine?

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