Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Locked Away on piano
By R. City
- Db major
- 4/4
- 94 BPM
- vi–IV–I–V loop
- 2015
- Medium
Learn Locked Away in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bbm – Gb – Db – Ab
Locked Away sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bbm is Bb, Db and F; Gb is Gb, Bb and Db; Db is Db, F and Ab; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbmviGbIVDbIAbV- BbmBb · Db · F
- GbGb · Bb · Db
- DbDb · F · Ab
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Double island pulse
The island rhythm squeezed in twice per bar: quick and dancy. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& · 3 · 3a · 4& (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 122 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 94 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: Gb – Ab – Db
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbAbDb
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Questions about Locked Away
What chords are in Locked Away?
The loop is Bbm – Gb – Db – Ab (vi – IV – I – V) in Db major, and the song ends on Gb – Ab – Db.
What key is Locked Away in?
Db major, at about 94 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Locked Away?
Double island pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& · 3 · 3a · 4&, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Locked Away 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.