Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Born To Be Wild on piano
By Steppenwolf
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 144 BPM
- I–bVII–I–bVII loop
- 1968
- Easy
Learn Born To Be Wild in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Db – Eb – Db
Born To Be Wild sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIDbbVIIEbIDbbVII- EbEb · G · Bb
- DbDb · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bossa chords
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: soft Brazilian chords. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 144 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Born To Be Wild
What chords are in Born To Be Wild?
The loop is Eb – Db – Eb – Db (I – bVII – I – bVII) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Born To Be Wild in?
Eb major, at about 144 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Born To Be Wild?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Born To Be Wild 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.