Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play One Short Day on piano
- F# major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- 2003
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn One Short Day in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F# – C#7 – F# – E
How it goes
One Short Day sits in F# major: F# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F# is F#, A# and C#; C#7 is C#, E#, G# and B; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F#IC#7V7F#IEbVII- F#F# · A# · C#
- C#7C# · E# · G# · B
- EE · G# · B
- 2
Left hand: Giant steps
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, low and heavy, like a giant walking. Musicians call it lh chords (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push-and-land chords
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: F# – C# – F#
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
F#C#F#- C#C# · E# · G#
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Questions about One Short Day
What chords are in One Short Day?
The loop is F# – C#7 – F# – E (I – V7 – I – bVII) in F# major, and the song ends on F# – C# – F#.
What key is One Short Day in?
F# major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in One Short Day?
Giant steps: lh chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is One Short Day 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.