Higher Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Higher in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Am – Am – Fmaj7 – Fmaj7
Higher sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Fmaj7 is F, A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviAmviFmaj7IVmaj7Fmaj7IVmaj7
- AmA · C · E
- Fmaj7F · A · C · E
41 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Push and land
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Push and landRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Freeze-tag chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 80 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 – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Higher?

The loop is Am – Am – Fmaj7 – Fmaj7 (vi – IVmaj7 – vi – IVmaj7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Higher in?

C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Higher?

Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Higher 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 Higher?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the repeating figure of the song from a score, with both hands.