Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Erotic City on piano
By Prince
- E minor
- 4/4
- 126 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Erotic City in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – C – Em – Am
How it goes
Erotic City sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiCVIEmiAmiv- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Push and land
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 126 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 – D – Em
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Erotic City
What chords are in Erotic City?
The loop is Em – C – Em – Am (i – bVI – i – iv) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Erotic City in?
E minor, at about 126 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Erotic City?
Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Erotic City 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.