Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play One on piano
By U2
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 132 BPM
- 1991
- Easy
Learn One in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – A7 – A7 – Ebmaj7
One sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; Ebmaj7 is Eb, G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7#IV7A7#IV7A7#IV7Ebmaj7Imaj7- A7A · C# · E · G
- Ebmaj7Eb · G · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 132 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: Eb – Fm – Eb
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFmEb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
Play next
Questions about One
What chords are in One?
The loop is A7 – A7 – A7 – Ebmaj7 (#IV7 – Imaj7 – #IV7 – Imaj7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Fm – Eb.
What key is One in?
Eb major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in One?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is One 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.
Can I hear the real melody of One?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 6 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.