Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Total Eclipse Of The Heart on piano
By Bonnie Tyler
- Db major
- 2/4
- 80 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Total Eclipse Of The Heart in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bbm – Ab
How it goes
Total Eclipse Of The Heart sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 2 chords: Bbm is Bb, Db and F; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbmviAbV- BbmBb · Db · F
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: Gb – Ab – Db
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbAbDb- GbGb · Bb · Db
- DbDb · F · Ab
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Questions about Total Eclipse Of The Heart
What chords are in Total Eclipse Of The Heart?
The loop is Bbm – Ab (vi – V) in Db major, and the song ends on Gb – Ab – Db.
What key is Total Eclipse Of The Heart in?
Db major, at about 80 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in Total Eclipse Of The Heart?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Total Eclipse Of The Heart easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 2 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Total Eclipse Of The Heart?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.