Welcome to Bite Sized Piano! In this tutorial, I will teach you how to play “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I. This song is currently number one on the Top 40 charts in the UK, making it incredibly popular. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner, because this song consists of the same four chords throughout, making it suitable for players of all skill levels.
Before we start the tutorial, let me introduce myself. My name is Francesca, and I am the teacher here at Bite Sized Piano. If you’re new to the channel, take a look around and see what other piano tutorials you can learn from. I also take piano tutorial requests, so if you have a song in mind, leave it in the comments below or visit my official request page (link in the description). I would like to give a special thank you to Fajn, who supports me on Patreon. If you’re interested in supporting this channel as well, you can find more information in the description. Don’t forget to like the video if you find it helpful and valuable.
Now, let’s dive into the tutorial. “Dance Monkey” is an insanely catchy song, and it’s no wonder it has reached number one. We will start by looking at the right hand. This song is in the key signature of F-sharp minor, which means it has a lot of black keys. On the screen now, you can see the scale of F-sharp minor. The chords and melody line are formed using these notes. For this tutorial, we will focus on the piano part only, not the melody line.
First, let’s establish our reference point. Middle C is here for your reference. I will be playing quite high up on the piano. In the right hand, you will be playing two notes at a time. The first two notes are an A and C-sharp, and you will play them eight times. Then, you will move down to F-sharp and A, also playing them eight times. Next, move up one shape to G-sharp and B, and play it eight times. Finally, the last shape is E and G-sharp, played eight times. After that, you start again from the beginning. You will repeat this pattern a few times.
In the left hand, we will need the notes F-sharp, D, E, and C-sharp, which correspond to the chords we will be using. Hold these notes down to begin with. Now, let’s try combining both hands. If you prefer a simplified version, you can stop here. This piano part repeats throughout the song, so you just need to listen to the track and determine when the part comes in and drops back out. The chorus mainly consists of vocals, percussion, and bass, with no piano parts.
Now, let’s break down the beginning of the song. The left hand plays the notes again before you play the right hand part for the eighth time. In the verses, the left hand actually plays full chords. The first chord is F-sharp minor, followed by D major, E major, and C-sharp minor. Repeat this progression. If you want to add more rhythm to the left hand, you can try playing it in a syncopated rhythm (one and two and three and four and…). At the end of the verses, hold the last two chords before transitioning into the chorus.
That’s all the parts you need to play “Dance Monkey” on the piano. The right hand remains the same throughout the song, while the left hand adds different chords. Remember to listen to the song to know when to play the piano part and when to drop out. I have provided a link to the full chord and song lyric structure in the description below to help you along with playing the entire song.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful. To request a piano tutorial, make sure you are subscribed and click on the video that takes you to my official request page. All requests are noted and considered, so don’t forget to hit the notifications bell because your request might be coming up soon. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you in the next tutorial.
In conclusion, “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I is an easy yet catchy song to play on the piano. The key signature of F-sharp minor sets the tone for this popular track. By following the right hand pattern and adding in the appropriate chords with the left hand, you’ll be able to recreate the song’s recognizable melody. Remember to listen to the original track for timing and transitions. Enjoy playing “Dance Monkey” and continue to explore more piano tutorials on Bite Sized Piano.
