Pure And Simple Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Pure And Simple in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – F – C – Am
Pure And Simple sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIAmvi
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- AmA · C · E
26 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Stair steps
Three notes climb up the chord in the island rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 438 songs of the library.
Stair stepsBroken chord · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Wait-a-beat chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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: Am – F – C
The last chords are vi – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmFC

What chords are in Pure And Simple?

The loop is C – F – C – Am (I – IV – I – vi) in C major, and the song ends on Am – F – C.

What key is Pure And Simple in?

C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Pure And Simple?

Stair steps: broken chord 1-3-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Pure And Simple 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.