Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Soldier Boy on piano
By The Shirelles
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- Easy
Learn Soldier Boy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Eb – Bb – Eb
Soldier Boy sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIEbIVBbIEbIV- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Yo-yo bounce
A long high root, a dip down, and back up like a yo-yo. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – F7 – Bb
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbF7Bb- F7F · A · C · Eb
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Questions about Soldier Boy
What chords are in Soldier Boy?
The loop is Bb – Eb – Bb – Eb (I – IV – I – IV) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F7 – Bb.
What key is Soldier Boy in?
Bb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Soldier Boy?
Yo-yo bounce: broken chord 8-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Soldier Boy 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.