Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Darlin on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Darlin in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – G – Am – F
Darlin sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIGVAmviFIV
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- FF · A · C
266 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Eager heartbeat
Jumps in early on the “and” before beat 3, like it can’t wait. Musicians call it root bass · pop push 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 403 songs of the library.
Eager heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Offbeat skankOffbeat chords · Blues and boogie-woogieRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 93 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: Am – F – C
The last chords are vi – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmFC

What chords are in Darlin?

The loop is C – G – Am – F (I – V – vi – IV) in C major, and the song ends on Am – F – C.

What key is Darlin in?

C major, at about 93 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Darlin?

Eager heartbeat: root bass · pop push 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Darlin 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.