Piano chords · Lullaby boat
How to play From The Ground Up on piano
Written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney & others
- A major
- 6/8
- 77 BPM
- V–vi–V–IV loop
- 2016
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn From The Ground Up in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – F#m – E – D
How it goes
From The Ground Up sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; F#m is F#, A and C#; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EVF#mviEVDIV- EE · G# · B
- F#mF# · A · C#
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Rowing-boat pulse
How it goes
Six even low notes per bar, rolling along like oars on water. Musicians call it root bass · 6/8 8ths (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 240 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 77 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: E – D – A
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EDA- AA · C# · E
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Questions about From The Ground Up
What chords are in From The Ground Up?
The loop is E – F#m – E – D (V – vi – V – IV) in A major, and the song ends on E – D – A.
What key is From The Ground Up in?
A major, at about 77 beats a minute in 6/8.
What does the left hand play in From The Ground Up?
Rowing-boat pulse: root bass · 6/8 8ths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is From The Ground Up easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.