Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Shy on piano
By Rodgers & Barer
- Ab major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- V7–I–ii–V7 loop
- 1959
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Shy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb7 – Ab – Bbm – Eb7
How it goes
Shy sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Eb7V7AbIBbmiiEb7V7- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. 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: Ab – Eb7 – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbEb7Ab
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Questions about Shy
What chords are in Shy?
The loop is Eb7 – Ab – Bbm – Eb7 (V7 – I – ii – V7) in Ab major, and the song ends on Ab – Eb7 – Ab.
What key is Shy in?
Ab major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Shy?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Shy 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.