Piano chords · Rock drive

How to play Bones on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Bones in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A – F#m – D – A
Bones sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; F#m is F#, A and C#; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIF#mviDIVAI
- AA · C# · E
- F#mF# · A · C#
- DD · F# · A
121 songs go round the same chords
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.
Heartbeat octavesRocking octaves · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Soft chordsBlock chords · BalladRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 95 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#m – D – A
The last chords are vi – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
F#mDA

What chords are in Bones?

The loop is A – F#m – D – A (I – vi – IV – I) in A major, and the song ends on F#m – D – A.

What key is Bones in?

A major, at about 95 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Bones?

Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Bones 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.