How to play 2 Poor Kids on piano

By Ruth B

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn 2 Poor Kids in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Eb – Bb – Dm – Eb
2 Poor Kids sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIVBbIDmiiiEbIV
- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- DmD · F · A
2
Left hand: Slow-dance heartbeat
Four slow, deep beats under a swaying fifties ballad. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 134 songs of the library.
Slow-dance heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · 50s doo-wopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 102 BPM
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 – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb
- FF · A · C

What chords are in 2 Poor Kids?

The loop is Eb – Bb – Dm – Eb (IV – I – iii – IV) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.

What key is 2 Poor Kids in?

Bb major, at about 102 beats a minute in 12/8.

What does the left hand play in 2 Poor Kids?

Slow-dance heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is 2 Poor Kids 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.