How to Play "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel on Piano
“The Boxer” is in C major, 2/2 time, at 88 BPM, counted in half notes. 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 24 phrases, and 4 of them repeat ones you will already know.
- C major
- 2/2
- 88 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
2/2
2 beats in every bar (half notes), at 88 BPM
The chords you play
The song uses 7 chords. You learn them a phrase at a time: Gm, C, Em, Am, G, F and Bdim.
Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Gm where the sheet music writes Gm6.
Your left hand for this song
Arpeggio
We'll use this simple left-hand pattern to accompany the melody: low, middle, high, middle, two notes a beat. A slow song in 2/2 has room for two notes a beat.
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 “The Boxer” in?
“The Boxer” is in C major, which has no sharps or flats. The C major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A and B.
What are the chords in “The Boxer”?
The lesson plays 7 chords, one easy shape each: Gm, C, Em, Am, G, F and Bdim. As the sheet music writes them: Gm6, C, C7, Em7/B, Em7, Am, G, G7, G6, G/B, G7/B, Am7, F/C and Bdim. Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Gm where the sheet music writes Gm6.
What should my left hand play in “The Boxer”?
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 “The Boxer”?
“The Boxer” plays at 88 BPM in 2/2, counted in half notes. Every step starts at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down as much as you need.
Is “The Boxer” 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 C4 up to F5. 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 “The Boxer”?
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.