Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Before The River Came on piano
By 4Him
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 88 BPM
- I–V–vi–IV loop
- 1998
- Easy
Learn Before The River Came in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Eb – Fm – Db
Before The River Came sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIEbVFmviDbIV- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
- DbDb · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Push and land
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sprint-and-stop chords
Four quick chords in the first half, then a calm, empty second half. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 88 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: Ebsus4 – Eb – Ab
The last chords are Vsus – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
Ebsus4EbAb- Ebsus4Eb · Ab · Bb
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Questions about Before The River Came
What chords are in Before The River Came?
The loop is Ab – Eb – Fm – Db (I – V – vi – IV) in Ab major, and the song ends on Ebsus4 – Eb – Ab.
What key is Before The River Came in?
Ab major, at about 88 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Before The River Came?
Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Before The River Came 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.