Sleepers, Awake, BWV 140 Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Sleepers, Awake, BWV 140 in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Eb – Ab – Eb – Ab
Sleepers, Awake, BWV 140 sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIAbIVEbIAbIV
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
782 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: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
4
Both hands at 56 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: Eb – Ab – Eb
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbAbEb

What chords are in Sleepers, Awake, BWV 140?

The loop is Eb – Ab – Eb – Ab (I – IV – I – IV) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Ab – Eb.

What key is Sleepers, Awake, BWV 140 in?

Eb major, at about 56 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Sleepers, Awake, BWV 140?

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

Is Sleepers, Awake, BWV 140 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.