Is this real life? Yes, it is!
Some songs get 15 minutes of fame, while others get 15 years. Then there are songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This 1970s rock opera has left such an indelible imprint on the music business that it’s safe to assume its fame will span 15 decades.
When Queen released Rhapsody, it was welcomed with criticism, awe, and, most importantly, complete shock. Nobody knew how to process this sonic revolution, which defied all of the conventions and standards of pop/rock music at the time.
Today, it is a timeless classic with a global impact. Bohemian Rhapsody is six minutes lengthy and has a million different sections, with no chorus, making it tough to master.
We can’t cover everything in this short tutorial, but we will break down some of the main motifs of Bohemian Rhapsody and teach you how to play them on the piano.
Bohemian Rhapsody: Piano Sheet Music Breakdown
1. The iconic introduction
You’ll notice two flats, which means we’re in B Flat Major. Make a note that all E’s and B’s are flat by default.
Freddie now plays the entire riff with both hands while singing. If you also wish to accomplish this, you can play octaves with your right hand above the G and F.
Practice this part of the song thoroughly. Even though you come across similar patterns throughout the tune, a thorough bohemian rhapsody piano sheet music will make the lesson a lot more worthwhile and seamless.
2. Melody insertion
The left hand is fairly consistent here, with the exception that we scooch down to construct a similar chord figure for Gm with our left hand. Keep an eye out for ties on the right hand.
The following section becomes a little crazy. Your hands will not align. And when you practice slowly (as you should!), it may seem unconventional. However, if you play it at the proper pace, you will be able to clearly hear the melody.
If you find this section perplexing, feel free to rewind the movie a few times. For the more visually minded, here are some counting graphics that may be useful. Note that each word (1, e, +, a, etc.) represents a sixteenth note.
And here’s how the notes come together:
However, if it helps to simply listen to the music and play what you hear, that is also an option.
And, if this is too difficult (no guilt!), you can play and hold the chords with your left hand while playing the melody on top. It will still sound great!
Hot tip! Weird rhythms are tricky to understand, but breaking them down can help.
3. The Chromatic Section
The following section appears to be a little dynamic, so proceed with caution. If you need to focus more on the left hand, practice it on its own a few times. But the chromaticism (going down by half-steps) is sort of what makes this part sound so wonderful.
A similar chromatic pattern occurs in measure 13.
History Bite: Producing “Bohemian Rhapsody” was not an easy feat. During Queen’s reign, everything was analog and manual. Recording needed a great level of commitment due to the difficulty of editing. Freddie was claimed to have gone into the studio with the song completely formed in his thoughts.
Almost there…
Measurements 15-16 appear a little complex, but we’re getting there, so hang on tight!
Practice your left hand first. There will be a C flat on your right hand. That’s precisely the same note as B Natural.
…And you’re finished!
The song is now winding down. You’ll be stepping down chromatically through a few chords, so keep an eye out for any occurrences.
4. A three-over-four polyrhythm
The core of this rockin’ riff is a ‘3 over 4’ polyrhythm. This signifies that the beat has two pulses: three and four.
As you can see, the time signature for this part is 12/8. This indicates that there are twelve eighth notes in each bar. Twelve is a mystical polyrhythmic number since it is divisible by three and four.
Look at the upper management. The right-hand section consists primarily of quarter notes. Six quarter notes are in a 12/8 bar, making it simple to count in groups of three.
Look at the lower-level staff.
The left-hand portion has dotted quarter notes. Each one represents three eighth notes, so a bar of 12/8 contains four dotted quarter notes. This is the fourth pulse.
Tap the four-pulse on the bottom staff with your left hand. Tap the quarter notes that make up the melody line with your right hand to generate a three-pulse. If you’re doing it correctly, you should have a great beat groove.
Once the rhythm feels right in your hands and on the table, try reading the passage above and playing it on the piano. The left hand controls the four-pulse with powerful bass octaves, while the right hand plays the melody in higher octaves.
In the end!
The film “Bohemian Rhapsody” is about Freddie Mercury and the formation of Queen, which gives the song a new life. Freddie used the piano in many songs, albums, and live performances. He employed concert grand pianos, synthesizers, and even a harpsichord.
Freddie was certainly inventive, and you can be, too!
While we have supplied full sheet music to allow you to perform as near to the original as possible, you are not required to play anything precisely as stated.