Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Suspirium on piano
Written by Thom Yorke
- C# minor
- 3/4
- 152 BPM
- 2018
- Easy
Learn Suspirium in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G#m – A – G#m – F#m
Suspirium sits in C# minor: C# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G#m is G#, B and D#; A is A, C# and E; F#m is F#, A and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G#mvAVIG#mvF#miv- G#mG# · B · D#
- AA · C# · E
- F#mF# · A · C#
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 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 152 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: A – B – C#m
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABC#m- BB · D# · F#
- C#mC# · E · G#
Questions about Suspirium
What chords are in Suspirium?
The loop is G#m – A – G#m – F#m (v – bVI – v – iv) in C# minor, and the song ends on A – B – C#m.
What key is Suspirium in?
C# minor, at about 152 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Suspirium?
Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Suspirium 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.