Northern Sky by Nick Drake

Key: D# · 185 BPM · 4/4

Northern Sky by Nick Drake is written in Eb major. Rather than one of the handful of progressions that show up again and again across pop and rock, it settles into its own 2-chord loop — Eb-Fm — repeating with its own internal logic instead of borrowing a familiar shape. At 185 BPM, it moves at a fast, high-energy pace.

The progression

This song cycles a 2-chord progression in Eb major: Eb-Fm. Chords are automatically detected — if something looks off, let us know.

Play it in other keys

Capo	Shape key	Chords to play
Capo 1	D	D-Em
Capo 3	C	C-Dm
Capo 6	A	A-Bm

Chord chart

0:00 Eb
0:02 Fm7
0:05 Eb
0:08 Fm7
0:10 Eb
0:13 Fm7
0:15 Eb
0:18 Fm7
0:20 Eb
0:24 Fm
0:26 Eb
0:29 Fm
0:31 Eb
0:34 Fm
0:36 Eb
0:39 Fm
0:42 Bb
0:47 Ab
0:47 Eb
0:50 Fm7
0:52 Eb
0:56 Fm7
0:58 Eb
1:01 Fm
1:03 Eb
1:06 Fm7
1:08 Eb
1:12 Fm7
1:13 Eb
1:17 Fm
1:19 Bb
1:24 Eb
1:27 Fm
1:30 Eb
1:33 Fm
1:35 Eb
1:38 Fm7
1:40 Eb
1:46 Ab
1:48 Eb
1:51 Ab
1:54 Eb
1:57 Ab
1:59 Eb
2:03 Ab
2:05 Eb
2:08 Ab
2:10 Bb
2:15 Eb
2:18 Fm
2:21 Eb
2:23 Fm
2:26 Eb
2:28 Fm
2:31 Eb
2:34 Fm
2:37 Bb
2:42 Eb
2:45 Fm
2:47 Eb
2:50 Fm7
2:52 Eb
2:55 Fm7
2:58 Eb
3:00 Fm7
3:03 Eb
3:06 Fm7
3:08 Eb
3:11 Fm
3:14 Bb
3:19 Eb
3:22 Fm7
3:24 Eb
3:27 Fm7
3:29 Eb
3:33 Fm
3:35 Eb
3:37 Fm7
3:38 Eb

Frequently asked questions

What key is Northern Sky in?

Northern Sky is in Eb major.

What chords does Northern Sky use?

The core of Northern Sky cycles through Eb, Fm (2 chords).

What is the tempo of Northern Sky?

Northern Sky runs at 185 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chord progression does Northern Sky use?

Northern Sky doesn't follow one of the common named progressions — it cycles its own 2-chord loop: Eb-Fm.

What capo should I use for Northern Sky?

Capo 1 and play D major shapes — that gets you open chords instead of barring in Eb major.