Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Citizen/Soldier on piano
Written by Brad Arnold
- C minor
- 4/4
- 96 BPM
- 2008
- Easy
Learn Citizen/Soldier in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Eb – C – Ab
Citizen/Soldier sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIEbIIICIAbVI- CC · E · G
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Push and land
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 96 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 – Cm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm- BbBb · D · F
- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about Citizen/Soldier
What chords are in Citizen/Soldier?
The loop is C – Eb – C – Ab (I5 – bIII5 – I5 – bVI5) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is Citizen/Soldier in?
C minor, at about 96 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Citizen/Soldier?
Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Citizen/Soldier 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.