Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang) on piano
By Rufus & Chaka Khan
- A major
- 4/4
- 82 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1975
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – D – A – D
How it goes
Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang) sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIDIVAIDIV- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Busy-bee pulse
How it goes
Busy and bouncy, with pushes before beat 3 and at the very end. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4 · 4& (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 176 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 82 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: D – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- EE · G# · B
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Questions about Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang)
What chords are in Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang)?
The loop is A – D – A – D (I – IV – I – IV) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang) in?
A major, at about 82 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang)?
Busy-bee pulse: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4 · 4&, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Sweet Thing (Sweet Thang) easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.