Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Mama on piano
Written by Andreas Romdhane, Savan Kotecha & others
- F major
- 4/4
- 82 BPM
- 2005
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Mama in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – F – Gm – Csus4
How it goes
Mama sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; F is F, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D; Csus4 is C, F and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVFIGmiiCsus4Vsus4- BbBb · D · F
- FF · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- Csus4C · F · G
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Skip-and-stroll chords
How it goes
A skippy push at the start, then calm chords on 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 82 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: Csus4 – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are Vsus – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
Csus4CF- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about Mama
What chords are in Mama?
The loop is Bb – F – Gm – Csus4 (IV – I – ii – Vsus) in F major, and the song ends on Csus4 – C – F.
What key is Mama in?
F major, at about 82 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Mama?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mama 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.