Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play High Hopes on piano

Tuning the piano…

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Learn High Hopes in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: F – F#dim – Gm – C7
High Hopes sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; F#dim is F#, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIF#dimbii°GmiiC7V7
- FF · A · C
- F#dimF# · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb
32 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Skipping-stone pulse
One strong note, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 282 songs of the library.
Skipping-stone pulseRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hide-and-seek chords
Hides on beat 1, pops up on 2, sneaks in before beat 4, then lands on it. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hide-and-seek chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 130 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 – C7 – F
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FC7F

What chords are in High Hopes?

The loop is F – F#dim – Gm – C7 (I – biio – ii – V7) in F major, and the song ends on F – C7 – F.

What key is High Hopes in?

F major, at about 130 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in High Hopes?

Skipping-stone pulse: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is High Hopes 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.