Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Onward, Christian Soldiers on piano
By Sabine Baring-Gould
- C major
- 4/4
- 105 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Onward, Christian Soldiers in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Eb7 – D7 – Db7
How it goes
Onward, Christian Soldiers sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db; D7 is D, F#, A and C; Db7 is Db, F, Ab and Cb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIEb7bIII7D7II7Db7bII7- CC · E · G
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- D7D · F# · A · C
- Db7Db · F · Ab · Cb
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
How it goes
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 105 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 – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Onward, Christian Soldiers
What chords are in Onward, Christian Soldiers?
The loop is C – Eb7 – D7 – Db7 (I – bIII7 – II7 – bII7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Onward, Christian Soldiers in?
C major, at about 105 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Onward, Christian Soldiers?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Onward, Christian Soldiers 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.