Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Dirty Little Secret on piano
- C major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Dirty Little Secret in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm – E7 – Dm – E7
How it goes
Dirty Little Secret sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; E7 is E, G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmiiE7III7DmiiE7III7- DmD · F · A
- E7E · G# · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Run-up chords
How it goes
Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: C – Csus4 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – Isus – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CCsus4C- CC · E · G
- Csus4C · F · G
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Questions about Dirty Little Secret
What chords are in Dirty Little Secret?
The loop is Dm – E7 – Dm – E7 (ii – III7 – ii – III7) in C major, and the song ends on C – Csus4 – C.
What key is Dirty Little Secret in?
C major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Dirty Little Secret?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dirty Little Secret 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.