Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Jesus Messiah on piano
By Chris Tomlin
- C major
- 4/4
- 84 BPM
- 2008
- Medium
Learn Jesus Messiah in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – Gsus4
Jesus Messiah sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; Gsus4 is G, C and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIGsus4Vsus4- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- Gsus4G · C · D
- 2
Left hand: Engine 8ths
The lowest note on every eighth: the engine of rock. Musicians call it root bass · 8ths (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hurrying chords
Calm chords in the first half, then twice as fast to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 84 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- GG · B · D
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Questions about Jesus Messiah
What chords are in Jesus Messiah?
The loop is C – F – C – Gsus4 (I – IV – I – Vsus) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Jesus Messiah in?
C major, at about 84 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Jesus Messiah?
Engine 8ths: root bass · 8ths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Jesus Messiah easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.