Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Man On Fire on piano
By Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
- C major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- IV–I–IV–I loop
- 2012
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Man On Fire in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C – F – C
How it goes
Man On Fire sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVCIFIVCI- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 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: Skipping-stone chords
How it goes
One chord, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: G – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GFC- GG · B · D
Play next
Questions about Man On Fire
What chords are in Man On Fire?
The loop is F – C – F – C (IV – I – IV – I) in C major, and the song ends on G – F – C.
What key is Man On Fire in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Man On Fire?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Man On Fire 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.