Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play The Core on piano
By Eric Clapton
- E major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1978
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Core in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – E – A – E
How it goes
The Core sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIEIAIVEI- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- 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: Swing push
How it goes
Three chords tumble out early with a swing, then the bar breathes. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – A – E
How it goes
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DAE- DD · F# · A
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Questions about The Core
What chords are in The Core?
The loop is E – E – A – E (I5 – I – IV5 – I5) in E major, and the song ends on D – A – E.
What key is The Core in?
E major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Core?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Core 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.