Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Jump on piano

Written by David Lee Roth, Edward Van Halen & others

  • C major
  • 4/4
  • 140 BPM
  • 1983
  • Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Tuning the piano…
Learn it
Style

Left hand Sneaky heartbeatRight hand Peekaboo chordsChords from the chord symbols in the score

Learn Jump in 5 steps

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

  1. 1

    Chords: Bbm – F# – Ab – Ab – Db – Bbm – F# – Ab – Ab – Db

    Jump sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 10 chords: Bbm is Bb, Db and F; F# is F#, A# and C#; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    BbmbviiF##IVAbbVIAbbVIDbbIIBbmbviiF##IVAbbVIAbbVIDbbII
    • BbmBb · Db · F
    • F#F# · A# · C#
    • AbAb · C · Eb
    • DbDb · F · Ab
  2. 2

    Left hand: Sneaky heartbeat

    One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 436 songs of the library.

    Sneaky heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
  3. 3

    Right hand: Peekaboo chords

    A chord on 2, then two surprises popping up between the beats. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.

    Peekaboo chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
  4. 4

    Both hands at 140 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. 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

Play next

The same left hand: Sneaky heartbeat

About this pattern
Walking in MemphisMarc Cohn
Easy LoverPhil Collins, Philip Bailey and Nathan East
Mama (feat. William Singe)Jonas Blue
God Only KnowsThe Beach Boys

Questions about Jump

What chords are in Jump?

The loop is Bbm – F# – Ab – Ab – Db – Bbm – F# – Ab – Ab – Db (bvii – #IV – bVI – bII – bvii – #IV – bVI – bII – bvii – #IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Jump in?

C major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Jump?

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

Is Jump easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 10 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Jump?

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

Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.