Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Automatic on piano
Written by Prince
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 126 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Learn Automatic in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb7 – Bbm – Eb7 – Bbm
Automatic sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Eb7I7BbmvEb7I7Bbmv- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Eager heartbeat
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.
- 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 126 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
- EbEb · G · Bb
Play next
Questions about Automatic
What chords are in Automatic?
The loop is Eb7 – Bbm – Eb7 – Bbm (I7 – v – I7 – v) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Automatic in?
Eb major, at about 126 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Automatic?
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 Automatic 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.