Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play One Thing on piano
Written by Alicia Keys, James Ho & others
- A major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- I–I7–IV–iv loop
- 2012
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn One Thing in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – A7 – D – Dm
How it goes
One Thing sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIA7I7DIVDmiv- AA · C# · E
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- DmD · F · A
- 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 80 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: D – Dm – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – iv – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DDmA
Play next
Questions about One Thing
What chords are in One Thing?
The loop is A – A7 – D – Dm (I – I7 – IV – iv) in A major, and the song ends on D – Dm – A.
What key is One Thing in?
A major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in One Thing?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is One Thing 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.