Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play 29 #Strafford APTS on piano
Written by Justin Vernon & Brandon Burton
- E major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- V–vi–V–IV loop
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn 29 #Strafford APTS in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: B – C#m – B – A
How it goes
29 #Strafford APTS sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B is B, D# and F#; C#m is C#, E and G#; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BVC#mviBVAIV- BB · D# · F#
- C#mC# · E · G#
- AA · C# · E
- 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: Double-clap chords
How it goes
Quick double claps on beats 2 and 4, leaving beats 1 and 3 empty. 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: E – A – E
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EAE- EE · G# · B
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Questions about 29 #Strafford APTS
What chords are in 29 #Strafford APTS?
The loop is B – C#m – B – A (V – vi – V – IV) in E major, and the song ends on E – A – E.
What key is 29 #Strafford APTS in?
E major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in 29 #Strafford APTS?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is 29 #Strafford APTS 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.