Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Father Figure on piano
Artist unknown
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–bVII–I–bVII loop
- Easy
Learn Father Figure in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Ab – Bb – Ab
Father Figure sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIAbbVIIBbIAbbVII- BbBb · D · F
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Sneaky heartbeat
One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 436 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
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Questions about Father Figure
What chords are in Father Figure?
The loop is Bb – Ab – Bb – Ab (I – bVII – I – bVII) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Father Figure in?
Bb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Father Figure?
Sneaky heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Father Figure 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.