Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play American Soldier on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn American Soldier in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: E – A – F#m – D
How it goes
American Soldier sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E; F#m is F#, A and C#; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EVAIF#mviDIV
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- F#mF# · A · C#
- DD · F# · A
32 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Eager heartbeat
How it goes
Jumps in early on the “and” before beat 3, like it can’t wait. Musicians call it root bass · pop push 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 403 songs of the library.
Eager heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 82 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: Esus4 – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are Vsus – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
Esus4EA
- Esus4E · A · B

What chords are in American Soldier?

The loop is E – A – F#m – D (V – I – vi – IV) in A major, and the song ends on Esus4 – E – A.

What key is American Soldier in?

A major, at about 82 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in American Soldier?

Eager heartbeat: root bass · pop push 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is American Soldier 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.