Held Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Held in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Ab – Bb – Eb – Cm
Held sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Cm is C, Eb and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIVBbVEbICmvi
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- CmC · Eb · G
29 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Lilting climb
Three notes climbing in a long-short swing, then a pause to ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (6/8) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 120 songs of the library.
Lilting climbBroken chord · LullabyLeft handEasy
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 99 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb

What chords are in Held?

The loop is Ab – Bb – Eb – Cm (IV – V – I – vi) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.

What key is Held in?

Eb major, at about 99 beats a minute in 12/8.

What does the left hand play in Held?

Lilting climb: broken chord 1-5-8 (6/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Held 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.