Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Shoulders on piano
Artist unknown
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 98 BPM
- I–V–IV–V loop
- Easy
Learn Shoulders in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Bb – Ab – Bb
Shoulders sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIBbVAbIVBbV- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
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 98 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: Cm – Bb – Eb
The last chords are vi – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CmBbEb- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about Shoulders
What chords are in Shoulders?
The loop is Eb – Bb – Ab – Bb (I – V – IV – V) in Eb major, and the song ends on Cm – Bb – Eb.
What key is Shoulders in?
Eb major, at about 98 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Shoulders?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Shoulders 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.