Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Knock Three Times on piano
Written by Irwin Levine & L. Russell Brown
- D major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–IV–ii–V7 loop
- 1970
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Knock Three Times in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – G – Em – A7
How it goes
Knock Three Times sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; G is G, B and D; Em is E, G and B; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIGIVEmiiA7V7- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
How it goes
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 BPM
How it goes
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: D – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DAD- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Knock Three Times
What chords are in Knock Three Times?
The loop is D – G – Em – A7 (I – IV – ii – V7) in D major, and the song ends on D – A – D.
What key is Knock Three Times in?
D major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Knock Three Times?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Knock Three Times 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.