Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Baby What A Big Surprise on piano
Written by Peter Cetera
- C major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 1977
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Baby What A Big Surprise in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Dm – C7 – F
How it goes
Baby What A Big Surprise sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIDmiiC7I7FIV- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 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 80 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: Bb – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbFC- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Baby What A Big Surprise
What chords are in Baby What A Big Surprise?
The loop is C – Dm – C7 – F (I – ii – I7 – IV) in C major, and the song ends on Bb – F – C.
What key is Baby What A Big Surprise in?
C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Baby What A Big Surprise?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Baby What A Big Surprise 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.