Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Dem Haters on piano
By Rihanna
- E minor
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- i–v–iv–i loop
- 2006
- Easy
Learn Dem Haters in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – Bm – Am – Em
Dem Haters sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; Bm is B, D and F#; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiBmvAmivEmi- EmE · G · B
- BmB · D · F#
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bouncy bells
A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Dem Haters
What chords are in Dem Haters?
The loop is Em – Bm – Am – Em (i – v – iv – i) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Dem Haters in?
E minor, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Dem Haters?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dem Haters 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.