Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play A King Is Born on piano
Written by Sy Gorieb & Tim Hosman
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 116 BPM
- I–IV–V–IV loop
- 1993
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn A King Is Born in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Eb – F – Eb
How it goes
A King Is Born sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIEbIVFVEbIV- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Upside-down pulse
How it goes
Every note lands between the beats, so it bounces like reggae. Musicians call it root bass · offbeats (&s) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 176 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push-and-land chords
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 116 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: Cm – Eb – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are ii – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CmEbBb- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about A King Is Born
What chords are in A King Is Born?
The loop is Bb – Eb – F – Eb (I – IV – V – IV) in Bb major, and the song ends on Cm – Eb – Bb.
What key is A King Is Born in?
Bb major, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in A King Is Born?
Upside-down pulse: root bass · offbeats (&s), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is A King Is Born 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.