Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Martha My Dear on piano
By The Beatles
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Martha My Dear in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Bb7 – Ab – Bb7
How it goes
Martha My Dear sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIVBb7V7AbIVBb7V7- AbAb · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 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: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. 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: Ab – Bb7 – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBb7Eb- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Martha My Dear
What chords are in Martha My Dear?
The loop is Ab – Bb7 – Ab – Bb7 (IV – V7 – IV – V7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb7 – Eb.
What key is Martha My Dear in?
Eb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Martha My Dear?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Martha My Dear 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.