Belleville - from beginner to Master
elleville may sound harmonically rich, but underneath it is built from a few very clear movements. In this learning path, we’ll first reduce the tune to its harmonic skeleton in C major. Then we’ll gradually add the colors that give Belleville its character, explore the bridge, introduce richer voicings, and finally return to the complete song in its original key. The goal is not just to memorize chord shapes. You’ll learn to recognize the relationships between the chords — movements such as I–vi–ii–V, dominant resolution, borrowed harmony and a local ii–V–I. Some players may also recognize Belleville from Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, where it was heard on Central Island; the tune later appeared in Mafia II as well. For those who know it from the games, that connection can add an extra layer of nostalgia to the music. As you move through the path, try using Roman or Numbers view. The chord names may change, but the harmonic relationships remain the same.