Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Stayin’ Alive on piano
Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb & others
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 104 BPM
- vi–II7–vi–II7 loop
- 1977
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Stayin’ Alive in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Bb7 – Fm – Bb7
How it goes
Stayin’ Alive sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmviBb7II7FmviBb7II7- FmF · Ab · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Engine 8ths
How it goes
The lowest note on every eighth: the engine of rock. Musicians call it root bass · 8ths (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 104 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
Play next
Questions about Stayin’ Alive
What chords are in Stayin’ Alive?
The loop is Fm – Bb7 – Fm – Bb7 (vi – II7 – vi – II7) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Stayin’ Alive in?
Ab major, at about 104 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Stayin’ Alive?
Engine 8ths: root bass · 8ths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Stayin’ Alive easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.