Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Iris on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Iris in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Bm – A – G – Bm
Iris sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmiAVIIGVIBmi
- BmB · D · F#
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
25 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Wobbly heartbeat
Two off-balance notes on the “ands”, then a firm landing on beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 267 songs of the library.
Wobbly heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pop stabs
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pop stabsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 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: G – A – Bm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm

What chords are in Iris?

The loop is Bm – A – G – Bm (i – bVII – bVI – i) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.

What key is Iris in?

B minor, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Iris?

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

Is Iris 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.