Alone Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Alone in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb – Edim – Fm
Alone sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Edim is E, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7V7EbIEdimbii°Fmii
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- EdimE · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
17 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Island seesaw
Low, high, low in the three-three-two island rhythm. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 723 songs of the library.
Island seesawRoot–fifth bass · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Bouncy-ball chords
One chord, then chords bouncing on every “and”, like a ball. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Bouncy-ball chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 140 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 – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F

What chords are in Alone?

The loop is Bb7 – Eb – Edim – Fm (V7 – I – biio – ii) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.

What key is Alone in?

Eb major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Alone?

Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Alone 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.