Play “Bella Ciao” on piano: chords and lesson

If you’ve ever heard “Bella Ciao” and thought, “I wish I could play that on piano,” you’re in the right place. At Skoove, we’ve helped thousands of learners go from “I have no idea where to put my fingers” to confidently playing their favorite songs. In this guide, we’ll walk you step by step through an easy “Bella Ciao” piano tutorial so you can start playing it even if you’re a beginner. You just need a keyboard, a little curiosity and a few minutes of focused time. Let’s start learning!

“Bella Ciao” piano notes and keys

In this easy “Bella Ciao” piano version, we keep everything very compact so your hands don’t have to jump all over the keyboard. The song is in A minor, which means you can play the whole beginner version on white keys only, no black keys to worry about.

If you look at the sheet music, you’ll see:

• The song is in 4/4 time – you count “1-2-3-4” in each bar.
• The finger numbers (5-3-2-1-3 etc.) underneath the notes tell you which finger to use, so your hand can stay relaxed in one simple position.

Playing the notes with the right hand

The melody sits comfortably around middle C. Look at the first melodic note in the treble staff. Place your index finger (finger 2) on E. The rest of your fingers should naturally fall on the next white keys. In this simplified “Bella Ciao” piano easy arrangement, most of the melody moves step by step.

Try the first right hand part:

E (2) – E (2)

Play this very slowly with your right hand only, counting 1-2-3-4 in your head. Make sure each note is even and you don’t rush the last one. The main part of the initial melody is in the left hand. Let’s take a look.

Playing the notes with the left hand

The left hand gives the song its strong, marching feel. Place your pinky (finger 5) on the E below middle C. Let fingers 4, 3, 2 and 1 rest on the next white keys to the right (F, G, A, B). This is your “home base” for the left hand.

Try playing the first phrase:

E (5) – A (3) – B (3) – C (5) – A (3)

You should feel like you’re walking steadily, not jumping.

Repeat the same type of pattern for the next bars, following the finger numbers under the notes in your sheet.

How to practice “Bella Ciao” on piano

Use this short lesson plan to move through the “Bella Ciao” piano tutorial in clear, simple steps. You can follow it on your own or together with your child.

Step 1: Listen to the opening verse

Start by listening to the opening verse of “Bella Ciao”. Play the video or the Skoove lesson and focus on how the melody moves mostly step by step. Where the music gets louder and more intense. Don’t touch the keyboard yet just listen and internalise.

Step 2: Practice the “Bella Ciao” bass line

Play the simple bass notes from the first line. Keep the rhythm steady, this is your “Bella Ciao” chords piano foundation.

Step 3: Try the opening melody in your right hand

Try playing the specific melody part in the right hand as you get accustomed to the feeling of the song. If you’re learning with a child, you can sing the words while they play the notes. That makes the “Bella Ciao” piano notes easier to remember.

Step 4: Add the left-hand pattern under the melody

Once both hands feel okay on their own, it’s time to combine them. Choose a tiny section, where both hands interact. Play the left-hand bass notes in a slow, steady march. Add the right-hand melody on top, still counting 1-2-3-4 out loud. Don’t worry if you stop and restart a lot here, that’s normal. Focus on staying relaxed and keeping the beat.

Step 5: Play the full “Bella Ciao” piano easy version

When your mini-sections feel comfortable, link them together. Don’t rush, take it slow and let the song flow naturally. Inside the Skoove app, you can loop small sections, slow the tempo and get real-time feedback to help both hands lock together comfortably.

Stay curious, keep playing with Skoove

You’ve now seen how to break “Bella Ciao” on piano into simple steps. Even if you’re a beginner, you can already feel how powerful this song is when you play it slowly and steadily. Inside the Skoove app, you can follow an interactive lesson for this song and many others, see which keys to press in real time, slow everything down, loop tricky bars and get feedback when something is off. So don’t stop here on the page, come practice with us in Skoove. Let’s start your piano journey together!

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Author of this blog post:
Susana Pérez Posada

With over seven years in piano education and a deep passion for music therapy, Susana brings a unique blend of expertise to Skoove. A graduate in Music Therapy from SRH Hochschule Heidelberg and an experienced classical pianist from Universidad EAFIT, she infuses her teaching with a holistic approach that transcends traditional piano lessons. In her writings for Skoove, Susana combines her rich musical knowledge with engaging storytelling, enriching the learning experience for pianists of all levels. Away from the piano, she loves exploring new places and immersing herself in a good book, believing these diverse experiences enhance her creative teaching style.