Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Stars on piano
By Switchfoot
- D major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 2005
- Easy
Learn Stars in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – Gsus4 – D – C
Stars sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Gsus4 is G, C and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIGsus4IVsus4DICbVII- DD · F# · A
- Gsus4G · C · D
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Hop-skip heartbeat
Three steps, then a quick hop that skips right over beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 250 songs of the library.
- 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 120 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
Play next
Questions about Stars
What chords are in Stars?
The loop is D – Gsus4 – D – C (I5 – IVsus – I5 – bVII5) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Stars in?
D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Stars?
Hop-skip heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Stars 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.