How to Play "My Dearest Darling" by Etta James on Piano
“My Dearest Darling” is in Ab major, 12/8 time, at 40 BPM, counted in dotted quarters. This lesson teaches a simple version of the song: the melody in your right hand and easy chords in your left, one phrase at a time. The song has 18 phrases, and 2 of them repeat ones you will already know.
- Ab major
- 12/8
- 40 BPM
- Medium
- Melody + easy chords
Free to play. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack.
What you need to know
Read from the song's own melody and chords. The left hand is kept simple on purpose.
Time signature
12/8
4 big beats in every bar, at 40 BPM
It starts with a pickup of 1 beat before the first full bar.
The chords you play
The song uses 7 chords. You learn them a phrase at a time: Ab, Eb, Bbm, Db, Ddim, Fm and Bb.
Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Eb where the sheet music writes Eb7.
Your left hand for this song
Arpeggio
We'll use this simple left-hand pattern to accompany the melody: low, middle, high on each beat. A song in 12/8 moves in groups of three.
Right hand
The melody
The tune the singer sings, one note at a time, with finger numbers.
The lesson, step by step
3 short steps for each phrase of the song. Each one opens in the lesson player, so you can listen and play along on your own piano.
- Start hereRight hand
Step 1: Melody
Listen, then play the tune with your right hand, with finger numbers.
Open this step - Left hand
Step 2: Chords
Your left hand learns this phrase's chords: a bass note, block chords, or a simple pattern.
Open this step - Both hands
Step 3: Hands together
The melody with your left hand's chords under it. When you can play this, you can play the phrase.
Open this step Then play the whole song
When you can play every phrase, play the full sheet music with its backing track in the player.
Play the full song
Frequently asked questions
What key is “My Dearest Darling” in?
“My Dearest Darling” is in Ab major, which has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db. The Ab major scale is Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F and G.
What are the chords in “My Dearest Darling”?
The lesson plays 7 chords, one easy shape each: Ab, Eb, Bbm, Db, Ddim, Fm and Bb. As the sheet music writes them: Ab, Ab7/C, Eb7, Eb9, Bbm7, Db, Ddim7, Fm7 and Bb7. Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Eb where the sheet music writes Eb7.
What should my left hand play in “My Dearest Darling”?
First your left hand learns each phrase's chords on its own, then with the melody. It plays a bass note or a block chord when the chord changes, or a simple pattern: you choose, and the same choice stays on both steps.
What tempo is “My Dearest Darling”?
“My Dearest Darling” plays at 40 BPM in 12/8, counted in dotted quarters. Every step starts at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down as much as you need.
Is “My Dearest Darling” hard to play on piano?
It is rated Medium: a good next step once you can play a few easy songs. The melody goes from Ab3 up to Db5. The lesson teaches a simple version: the melody and one easy chord shape at a time in the left hand.
Where can I get the sheet music for “My Dearest Darling”?
Play the full sheet music free in the interactive player, or download a printable PDF. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack. It is this lesson on paper, with fingering, one left-hand style per PDF.