Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Pass It On on piano
By Kurt Kaiser
- D major
- 4/4
- 105 BPM
- I–iii–IV–V loop
- 1969
- Easy
Learn Pass It On in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – F#m – G – A
Pass It On sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; F#m is F#, A and C#; G is G, B and D; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIF#miiiGIVAV- DD · F# · A
- F#mF# · A · C#
- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Freeze-tag footsteps
Step, step-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 286 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 105 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: Asus4 – A – D
The last chords are Vsus – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
Asus4AD- Asus4A · D · E
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Questions about Pass It On
What chords are in Pass It On?
The loop is D – F#m – G – A (I – iii – IV – V) in D major, and the song ends on Asus4 – A – D.
What key is Pass It On in?
D major, at about 105 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Pass It On?
Freeze-tag footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Pass It On 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.