Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Empire State Of Mind (Part II): Broken Down on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Empire State Of Mind (Part II): Broken Down in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Bb – C – F – Bb
How it goes
Empire State Of Mind (Part II): Broken Down sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVCVFIBbIV
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
141 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Run-up footsteps
How it goes
Four steady steps plus a quick extra one that leads into the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 581 songs of the library.
Run-up footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
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 95 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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF

What chords are in Empire State Of Mind (Part II): Broken Down?

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

What key is Empire State Of Mind (Part II): Broken Down in?

F major, at about 95 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Empire State Of Mind (Part II): Broken Down?

Run-up footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Empire State Of Mind (Part II): Broken Down 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.