Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot) on piano
- D minor
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- 2018
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – Fm7 – Dm7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – Dm7
How it goes
Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot) sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Dm7 is D, F, A and C; Gm7 is G, Bb, D and F; Cm7 is C, Eb, G and Bb; Fm7 is F, Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Dm7i7Gm7iv7Cm7vii7Fm7iii7Dm7i7Gm7iv7Cm7vii7Dm7i7- Dm7D · F · A · C
- Gm7G · Bb · D · F
- Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
- Fm7F · Ab · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 BPM
How it goes
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: Bb – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
Play next
Questions about Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot)
What chords are in Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot)?
The loop is Dm7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – Fm7 – Dm7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – Dm7 (i7 – iv7 – vii7 – iii7 – i7 – iv7 – vii7 – i7) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot) in?
D minor, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot)?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot) easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Borderline (feat. Missy Elliot)?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.