How to Play “Fly Me to the Moon” on Piano

A step-by-step guide on how to play “Fly Me to the Moon” on the piano.

Introduction

In this simple piano tutorial, you will learn how to play the classic jazz standard “Fly Me to the Moon” in C major. We will be using a very easy left-hand accompaniment pattern throughout the song, so even beginners can follow along. In addition, the melody is fairly easy to play, and there are only a few chords that you need to know.

Verse

The first verse of “Fly Me to the Moon” can be played with only two chords. Each chord is played for two beats, making the verse easy to remember and play. The chords used in the first verse are Cmaj7 and D7.

You can find the sheet music for “Fly Me to the Moon” here:

[Sheet music for “Fly Me to the Moon”](https://www.sheetmusicdirect.us/sheetmusic/song/1000305958/fly-me-to-the-moon)

Chorus

There are numerous ways to play the chorus of “Fly Me to the Moon” on piano. Here are two of the most popular methods:

Method 1:
1. Play the chords in the left hand while simultaneously playing the melody in the right hand. This method is great for beginners as it doesn’t require too much coordination.

2. Play the chords in the left hand while arpeggiating them in the right hand. This means that you play each note of the chord separately in quick succession. This method is a bit more challenging but it sounds more impressive.

Bridge

Once you reach the bridge, the chords change to A-flat, D-flat, and E-flat. Play these chords in the same left-hand voicings as before. The right hand stays the same, playing quarter note melodies in a staccato style. When you get to the final chord of the bridge, hold it for four beats before transitioning back into the main melody of the song.

Outro

There are a few ways that you can finish this song. One is to simply repeat the chorus one more time and then end on the note “F.” Another option is to play the chorus a second time and then resolve to the note “G” on the final chord.

Once you have chosen your ending, you can experiment with different variations and embellishments. For example, you could try adding some movement in the right hand by playing arpeggios or broken chords instead of whole notes. You could also try adding some chromaticism by including some “blue notes” in your left-hand melody.

Once you have mastered the basic version of “Fly Me to the Moon,” there are endless possibilities for how you can take this song further and make it your own!