Act One Finale Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Act One Finale in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Cm – Fm – Cm – Fm
Act One Finale sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmiFmivCmiFmiv
- CmC · Eb · G
- FmF · Ab · C
68 songs go round the same chords
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 160 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: Ab – Bb – Cm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F

What chords are in Act One Finale?

The loop is Cm – Fm – Cm – Fm (i – iv – i – iv) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.

What key is Act One Finale in?

C minor, at about 160 beats a minute in 12/8.

What does the left hand play in Act One Finale?

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 Act One Finale 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.