Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Big Machine on piano
Written by John Rzeznik
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 2002
- Easy
Learn Big Machine in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Eb – Eb – Eb
Big Machine sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIVEbIVEbIVEbIV- EbEb · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. 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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
Play next
Questions about Big Machine
What chords are in Big Machine?
The loop is Eb – Eb – Eb – Eb (IV5 – IV – IV5 – IV) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Big Machine in?
Bb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Big Machine?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Big Machine 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.