Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Knocked Out on piano
By Paula Abdul
- C# minor
- 4/4
- 116 BPM
- 1988
- Easy
Learn Knocked Out in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G#m – A – F# – G#
Knocked Out sits in C# minor: C# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G#m is G#, B and D#; A is A, C# and E; F# is F#, A# and C#; G# is G#, B# and D#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G#mvAVIF#IVG#V- G#mG# · B · D#
- AA · C# · E
- F#F# · A# · C#
- G#G# · B# · D#
- 2
Left hand: Doorbell ding-dong
Two high, two low, in a lazy push rhythm: ding-ding, dong-dong. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 472 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 116 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: A – B – C#m
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABC#m- BB · D# · F#
- C#mC# · E · G#
Play next
Questions about Knocked Out
What chords are in Knocked Out?
The loop is G#m – A – F# – G# (v – bVI – IV – V) in C# minor, and the song ends on A – B – C#m.
What key is Knocked Out in?
C# minor, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Knocked Out?
Doorbell ding-dong: broken chord 8-8-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Knocked Out 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.