Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Stir It Up on piano
By Patti LaBelle And Joss Stone
- D major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 1984
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Stir It Up in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – G – A – Bm
How it goes
Stir It Up sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; G is G, B and D; A is A, C# and E; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiiGIVAVBmvi- EmE · G · B
- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Knock-knock chords
How it goes
Chord, a quick knock-knock, a pause, then one last chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: Em – G – D
How it goes
The last chords are ii – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EmGD- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Stir It Up
What chords are in Stir It Up?
The loop is Em – G – A – Bm (ii – IV – V – vi) in D major, and the song ends on Em – G – D.
What key is Stir It Up in?
D major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Stir It Up?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Stir It Up 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.