Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Chop And Change on piano
Written by Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 102 BPM
- vi–ii–vi–ii loop
- 2010
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Chop And Change in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Bbm – Fm – Bbm
How it goes
Chop And Change sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmviBbmiiFmviBbmii- FmF · Ab · C
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Lub-dub heartbeat
How it goes
Two quick beats, a pause, two quick beats: just like a real heart. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1& · 3 · 3& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 294 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 102 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: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
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Questions about Chop And Change
What chords are in Chop And Change?
The loop is Fm – Bbm – Fm – Bbm (vi – ii – vi – ii) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Chop And Change in?
Ab major, at about 102 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Chop And Change?
Lub-dub heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 1& · 3 · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Chop And Change 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.