Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Piece By Piece on piano
Written by Kelly Clarkson & Greg Kurstin
- D major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–V–vi–IV loop
- 2015
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Piece By Piece in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – A – Bm – G
How it goes
Piece By Piece sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E; Bm is B, D and F#; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIAVBmviGIV- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- BmB · D · F#
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Racing heartbeat
How it goes
One calm beat, then non-stop quick notes racing to the end. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4 · 4& (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 431 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: Bm – G – D
How it goes
The last chords are vi – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BmGD
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Questions about Piece By Piece
What chords are in Piece By Piece?
The loop is D – A – Bm – G (I – V – vi – IV) in D major, and the song ends on Bm – G – D.
What key is Piece By Piece in?
D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Piece By Piece?
Racing heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4 · 4&, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Piece By Piece easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.