Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
How to play Fallin' on piano
By Alicia Keys
- E minor
- 12/8
- 135 BPM
- 2001
- Easy
Learn Fallin' in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – Bm7 – Em – Bm7 – Em – Bm7 – Em – Bm7
Fallin' sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Em is E, G and B; Bm7 is B, D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiBm7v7EmiBm7v7EmiBm7v7EmiBm7v7- EmE · G · B
- Bm7B · D · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Slow-dance heartbeat
Four slow, deep beats under a swaying fifties ballad. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 134 songs of the library.
- 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
Both hands at 135 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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about Fallin'
What chords are in Fallin'?
The loop is Em – Bm7 – Em – Bm7 – Em – Bm7 – Em – Bm7 (i – v7 – i – v7 – i – v7 – i – v7) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Fallin' in?
E minor, at about 135 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Fallin'?
Slow-dance heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Fallin' easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Fallin'?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.