Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Bethlehem’s Treasure on piano
Written by Bob Fitts
- D major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–V–IV–V loop
- 1992
- Medium
Learn Bethlehem’s Treasure in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – A – G – A
Bethlehem’s Treasure sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIAVGIVAV- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Run-up footsteps
Four steady steps plus a quick extra one that leads into the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 581 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Slow-down chords
Quick chords rush through the first half, then slow down to land on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
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Questions about Bethlehem’s Treasure
What chords are in Bethlehem’s Treasure?
The loop is D – A – G – A (I – V – IV – V) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Bethlehem’s Treasure in?
D major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Bethlehem’s Treasure?
Run-up footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Bethlehem’s Treasure easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.