Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Born To Die on piano
Written by Jason Ingram & Bebo Norman
- D major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 2007
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Born To Die in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – G – Bm
How it goes
Born To Die sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIVDIGIVBmvi- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Knock-knock footsteps
How it goes
Step, then a quick knock-knock, a pause, and one last step. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 471 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Born To Die
What chords are in Born To Die?
The loop is G – D – G – Bm (IV – I5 – IV – vi) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Born To Die in?
D major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Born To Die?
Knock-knock footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Born To Die 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.