Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Pet Sematary on piano
Written by Douglas Colvin, John Cummings & others
- D minor
- 4/4
- 148 BPM
- 1989
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Pet Sematary in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – C – F – D
How it goes
Pet Sematary sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DICVIIFIIIDI- DD · F# · A
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Dancing heartbeat
How it goes
Notes dance around the beats, pushing ahead on the “ands”. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 245 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-hop chords
How it goes
Steady chords with one quick extra hop after beat 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 148 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: Bb – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- DmD · F · A
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Questions about Pet Sematary
What chords are in Pet Sematary?
The loop is D – C – F – D (I5 – bVII – bIII5 – I5) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Pet Sematary in?
D minor, at about 148 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Pet Sematary?
Dancing heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Pet Sematary 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.