Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Escape on piano

By Rupert Holmes

  • C major
  • 4/4
  • 70 BPM
  • 1979
  • Easy
Tuning the piano…
Learn it
Style

Left hand Pop heartbeatThe right hand sings the tuneChords from the chord symbols in the score

Learn Escape in 5 steps

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

  1. 1

    Chords: F – Fmaj7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – F – Fmaj7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Dm7

    Escape sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 10 chords: F is F, A and C; Fmaj7 is F, A, C and E; G7 is G, B, D and F; Cmaj7 is C, E, G and B; Dm7 is D, F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    FIVFmaj7IVmaj7G7V7Cmaj7Imaj7Dm7ii7FIVFmaj7IVmaj7G7V7Cmaj7Imaj7Dm7ii7
    • FF · A · C
    • Fmaj7F · A · C · E
    • G7G · B · D · F
    • Cmaj7C · E · G · B
    • Dm7D · F · A · C
  2. 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. 3

    Right hand: the chords, held

    In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.

  4. 4

    Both hands at 70 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. 5

    Ending: C – Dm – C

    The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.

    CDmC
    • CC · E · G
    • DmD · F · A

Play next

Questions about Escape

What chords are in Escape?

The loop is F – Fmaj7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – F – Fmaj7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 (IV – IVmaj7 – V7 – Imaj7 – ii7 – IV – IVmaj7 – V7 – Imaj7 – ii7) in C major, and the song ends on C – Dm – C.

What key is Escape in?

C major, at about 70 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Escape?

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 Escape easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 10 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Escape?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part 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.