Burnin’ Up Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Burnin’ Up in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Bm – D – A – G
How it goes
Burnin’ Up sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmiDIIIAVIIGVI
- BmB · D · F#
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
17 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
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.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Swinging bell
How it goes
A ringing chord, then two low notes swinging back and forth. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Swinging bellBroken-chord figure · Film scoreRight handMedium
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: G – A – Bm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm

What chords are in Burnin’ Up?

The loop is Bm – D – A – G (i – bIII – bVII – bVI) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.

What key is Burnin’ Up in?

B minor, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Burnin’ Up?

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 Burnin’ Up easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.