Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Man In The Box on piano
By Alice In Chains
- E major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1990
- Easy
Learn Man In The Box in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – G – D – A
Man In The Box sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiGbIIIDbVIIAIV- EmE · G · B
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Tiptoe heartbeat
One firm note, then three tiptoe steps between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 245 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
Play next
Questions about Man In The Box
What chords are in Man In The Box?
The loop is Em – G – D – A (i – bIII – bVII – IV) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Man In The Box in?
E major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Man In The Box?
Tiptoe heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Man In The Box 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.