Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother on piano
By The Hollies
- G major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – G – D – Em
How it goes
He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmiiGIDVEmvi- AmA · C · E
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Sneaky heartbeat
How it goes
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: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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 – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother
What chords are in He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother?
The loop is Am – G – D – Em (ii – I – V – vi) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother in?
G major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother?
Sneaky heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother 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.