Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Diamonds on piano
By Rihanna
- B minor
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- 2012
- Medium
Learn Diamonds in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – A – Bm7 – G – Bm
Diamonds sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: A is A, C# and E; Bm7 is B, D, F# and A; G is G, B and D; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AVIIAVIIBm7i7GVIBmi- AA · C# · E
- Bm7B · D · F# · A
- GG · B · D
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Doorbell ding-dong
Two high, two low, in a lazy push rhythm: ding-ding, dong-dong. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 472 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Rocking thirds
Two neighbouring chord notes rocking back and forth, soft and sweet. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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: G – A – Bm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm
Play next
Questions about Diamonds
What chords are in Diamonds?
The loop is A – A – Bm7 – G – Bm (VII – i7 – VI – i – VII) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.
What key is Diamonds in?
B minor, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Diamonds?
Doorbell ding-dong: broken chord 8-8-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Diamonds easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 5 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Diamonds?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.