Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Lanterns on piano
By Birds Of Tokyo
- G major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 2013
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Lanterns in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – C – G – C
How it goes
Lanterns sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GICIVGICIV- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: Em – C – G
How it goes
The last chords are vi – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EmCG- EmE · G · B
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Questions about Lanterns
What chords are in Lanterns?
The loop is G – C – G – C (I – IV – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on Em – C – G.
What key is Lanterns in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Lanterns?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Lanterns easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.