Popular (from Wicked) Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Popular (from Wicked) in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Dm7 – F – C – Dm – Am – Dm – Am
Popular (from Wicked) sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: Dm7 is D, F, A and C; F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Dm7vi7FICVDmviAmiiiDmviAmiii
- Dm7D · F · A · C
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- AmA · C · E
30 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Giant steps
A full chord on every beat, low and heavy, like a giant walking. Musicians call it lh chords (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Giant stepsLeft-hand chords · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 90 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
- BbBb · D · F

What chords are in Popular (from Wicked)?

The loop is Dm7 – F – C – Dm – Am – Dm – Am (vi7 – I – V – vi – iii – vi – iii) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Popular (from Wicked) in?

F major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Popular (from Wicked)?

Giant steps: lh chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Popular (from Wicked) easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Popular (from Wicked)?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.