Nobody's Child Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Nobody's Child in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Eb – Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
Nobody's Child sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIAbIVBbVEbI
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
215 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Doorbell ding-dong
How it goes
Two high, two low, in a lazy push rhythm: ding-ding, dong-dong. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 472 songs of the library.
Doorbell ding-dongBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hopscotch bellsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 112 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: Eb – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbBbEb

What chords are in Nobody's Child?

The loop is Eb – Ab – Bb – Eb (I – IV – V – I) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Bb – Eb.

What key is Nobody's Child in?

Eb major, at about 112 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Nobody's Child?

Doorbell ding-dong: broken chord 8-8-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Nobody's Child 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.