Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Macho Man on piano
Written by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo & others
- F major
- 4/4
- 124 BPM
- 1978
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Macho Man in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gm – Abm – Gm – Abm
How it goes
Macho Man sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; Abm is Ab, Cb and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmiiAbmbiiiGmiiAbmbiii- GmG · Bb · D
- AbmAb · Cb · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 124 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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
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Questions about Macho Man
What chords are in Macho Man?
The loop is Gm – Abm – Gm – Abm (ii – biii – ii – biii) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Macho Man in?
F major, at about 124 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Macho Man?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Macho Man 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.