Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Heroes on piano
By Mans Zelmerlow
- A minor
- 4/4
- 124 BPM
- 2015
- Easy
Learn Heroes in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fmaj7 – Am – G – D
Heroes sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fmaj7 is F, A, C and E; Am is A, C and E; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Fmaj7VImaj7AmiGVIIDIV- Fmaj7F · A · C · E
- AmA · C · E
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 124 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: F – G – Am
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm- FF · A · C
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Questions about Heroes
What chords are in Heroes?
The loop is Fmaj7 – Am – G – D (VImaj7 – i – VII – IV) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.
What key is Heroes in?
A minor, at about 124 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Heroes?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Heroes 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Heroes?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.