Body and Soul

Johnny Green

ModernFamousromanceE-flat majorModerato4/4~4 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 7

About this piece

Body and Soul is a seminal jazz standard by Johnny Green, frequently arranged for solo piano in a lyrical, improvisational style. It is renowned for its sophisticated harmonic progression and deeply emotive melodic arc.

Teacher notes

Mastering the thick chordal voicings and subtle rubato is essential for a convincing performance.

Technical focus

voicingrubatocantabileleft-hand-independence

Mood

intimatemelancholicelegant

Listen & watch

Your status

Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Body and Soul

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 5 pieces (Late intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Body and Soul by Johnny Green?

Body and Soul is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play Body and Soul?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Body and Soul?

A typical performance of Body and Soul lasts about 4 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Body and Soul?

Body and Soul is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Body and Soul?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Piano Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight', No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Nocturne in C-sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin, Waltz in C-sharp minor, No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.