Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Brave on piano
By Idina Menzel
- D major
- 4/4
- 72 BPM
- I–Isus–I–Isus loop
- Easy
Learn Brave in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – Dsus4 – D – Dsus4
Brave sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Dsus4 is D, G and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIDsus4Isus4DIDsus4Isus4- DD · F# · A
- Dsus4D · G · A
- 2
Left hand: Rock hop
Low, high, a quick double, then high again: a hopping rock bass. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 809 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
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 72 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Brave
What chords are in Brave?
The loop is D – Dsus4 – D – Dsus4 (I – Isus – I – Isus) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Brave in?
D major, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Brave?
Rock hop: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Brave 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.