How to Actually Play Bohemian Rhapsody on Piano (Queen Tutorial)

The Bohemian Rhapsody piano intro is built on a Bb major chord in second inversion (F Bb D) over a Bb octave bass, played by striking the top two notes, returning to the thumb on F, then crossing the left hand over to strike a high G octave, all held together with the sustain pedal.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 26 min

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This lesson by Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music teaches the famous piano intro of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and the first verse that follows, up to the line about throwing it all away. It suits an intermediate player who knows basic chords and can use a sustain pedal. The focus is on fingering, hand movement, dynamics and understanding why the chords work.

The key: Bb major

For practical purposes the song sits in Bb major, which has two flats, Bb and Eb. The scale is Bb C D Eb F G A Bb. Once you can play the intro pattern, most of the verse is the same mechanical movement applied to new chords.

The intro pattern

1. Left hand: play a Bb octave in the bass, not a single note.
2. Right hand: hold a Bb major chord in second inversion, F Bb D, using thumb, middle finger and pinky (1-3-5).
3. Instead of playing the chord as a block, strike the top two notes, Bb and D, then come back to the thumb on F.
4. Now the striking part: the left hand crosses over to the right of the right hand and plays a very high G octave. Then the thumb comes back in on F.

Alternate fingering

If the big hand shift feels jerky, try thumb on F, index on Bb, middle on D, and stretch a ninth from F up to G with the pinky. Children or players with small hands should stay with Freddie's 1-3-5 approach and the octave crossing.

Using the sustain pedal

The magic of the intro depends entirely on the sustain pedal (the right-hand pedal). Hold it through each phrase so the notes keep ringing while your hands lift and move. Without it the passage will not sound like the record.

The verse, chord by chord

• Mama: exactly the intro pattern on Bb major in second inversion.
• Just killed a man: G minor in root position, G Bb D, with G in the bass. Use the same movement: top two notes, back to the thumb, then the octave crossing. Freddie stretches to A, the ninth of G; if you cannot reach it, keep to 1-3-5.
• Put a gun against his head: C minor with a C bass, using the same crossing mechanics. Jason notes he worked this part out by ear, so details may be debated.
• Pulled my trigger, now he's dead: C minor seventh (C Eb G Bb), starting with Eb and Bb together, then F dominant seventh voiced Eb F A C. Change the pedal as you arrive on F.

C minor seventh is the ii chord of Bb and F7 is the V, so this is the classic ii-V-I jazz cadence leading back to Bb. The verse then repeats the first two chords for the next line.

The descending ending

The phrase about throwing it all away has a dark chromatic bass: C B Bb A Ab G, starting with a minim and moving in crotchets. Learn the bass alone first.

The chords above it are C minor, B augmented, Eb over Bb, A minor seven flat five (half-diminished), Ab major seventh and Eb over G. The trick is that Eb and G keep ringing in the right hand through the whole line while an inner voice moves down with the bass. On the A minor seven flat five chord, A against Eb forms a tritone before you arpeggiate.

How to practise

• Start very slowly, holding each hand position before adding movement.
• Practise the C minor seventh arpeggio on its own until it is comfortable, then add F7, which is cramped because it starts on a black key.
• Anticipate the thumb movement so each shift happens in one go.
• Chain the chords: Bb, G minor, C minor, C minor seventh, F7, then repeat, keeping the pedal held through each phrase.

Questions about this lesson

What key is the Bohemian Rhapsody piano intro in?

For practical purposes it is in Bb major, which has two flats, Bb and Eb. The opening chord is Bb major in second inversion, F Bb D.

How does Freddie Mercury play that very high G in the intro?

He crosses his left hand over to the right of his right hand and strikes a G octave, then brings the right thumb back to F. The sustain pedal keeps the chord ringing while the hands move.

What if my hands are too small for the stretch?

Use thumb, middle finger and pinky on F Bb D and cross the octave as Freddie does. The alternative fingering needs a ninth stretch from F to G, which many players cannot reach.

What are the chords in the first verse?

Bb major, G minor, C minor, then C minor seventh to F7, which is a ii-V-I cadence back to Bb. The line about throwing it all away uses a chromatic bass from C down to G under chords like B augmented, A half-diminished and Ab major seventh.

Practise it

• Cadence LibraryCompare piano cadences across keys and listen to how different chord movements create closure, suspense or a turn in a new direction.
• Chord TreesStart from a note and explore related chords, inversions and voicings.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

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