Be Prepared Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Be Prepared in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Am – Dm – Em – Am
Be Prepared sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmiDmivEmvAmi
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- EmE · G · B
18 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Stair steps
Three notes climb up the chord in the island rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 438 songs of the library.
Stair stepsBroken chord · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Run-up chords
Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Run-up chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 70 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: F – G – Am
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D

What chords are in Be Prepared?

The loop is Am – Dm – Em – Am (i – iv – v – i) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.

What key is Be Prepared in?

A minor, at about 70 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Be Prepared?

Stair steps: broken chord 1-3-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Be Prepared 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.