“Hey Jude” easy piano tutorial for beginners

It’s time to learn “Hey Jude” on piano step by step. At Skoove we keep things friendly and practical. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential “Hey Jude” piano chords, an easy version you can start with today and some simple tips to make it sound smooth and confident. Let’s get learning.

Video tutorial

Find the full beginner arrangement of “Hey Jude” on piano. Start a free trial today!

“Hey Jude” piano chord chart

Here are the chords for “Hey Jude” in the key of F:

Each three note chord is played with the left hand using three fingers. Try this hand position for each of them:

• Pinky (5),
• Middle finger (3),
• Thumb (1).

The C7 chord is made up of four notes C, E, G and Bb so you’ll need to use four fingers:

• Pinky (5)
• Middle finger (3)
• Index finger (2)
• Thumb (1)

Once you’re comfortable, these shapes will start to feel natural under your fingers. These chords form the backbone of this iconic piece. However, this song makes use of chord inversions. Let’s take a look at what this means for the piano notes in this song.

“Hey Jude” piano notes

To make the melody feel clear, it helps to look at the “Hey Jude” piano sheet music or the notation inside the Skoove app while you play. Your right hand starts one octave above middle C. The melody begins with the pattern:

C – A – A – C – D – G

As you can see the chords are written above the staff. However, if you want to look for specific inversions or fingerings check out the left hand bass part for a more accurate accompanying chord part.

Lesson plan

Let’s take a look at a guided lesson plan to take you through the “Hey Jude” piano tutorial.

Step 1: Listen to the song

Play the first minute of “Hey Jude” and focus on the gentle, steady feel of the verse. Notice how the melody moves in small steps and how the chords change slowly underneath. If you’re practicing with a child, hum the opening phrase together to internalize the shape of the tune.

Step 2: Practice the “Hey Jude” chords (F → C → C7 → F → B♭)

Start by playing the chords used in the first lines of the song. Use simple block chords in your right hand or single bass notes in your left. Keep each chord for four counts before moving on.

Step 3: Try the opening melody in your right hand

Try playing the melody in the right hand only initially as you get accustomed to it.

Step 4: Learn the left-hand accompaniment pattern

Now take a look at the accompaniment in the left hand and get more familiar with that part. For beginners, start with the simplest option: one bass note per chord (F, C, C, F, B♭ etc.).

Step 5: Play both hands together

Now you can combine the melody and left-hand chords. Try starting with just the first bar. Play slowly and aim for synchronisation between both hands. Don’t rush, this song works best when it feels calm and connected. Inside the Skoove app, you can loop small sections, slow the tempo and get real-time feedback to help both hands lock together comfortably.

Keep growing with Skoove

You’ve learned the basic “Hey Jude” piano chords, played melody and practiced putting both hands together. Now it’s time to keep that momentum going. Inside the Skoove app, you can continue exactly where you left off: slow the tempo, loop the trickiest phrases and follow along with a guided “Hey Jude” lesson that helps you shape the full song. Let’s head to the next lesson 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.