Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Cruel War Is Raging on piano
By Traditional American Folksong
- A major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Cruel War Is Raging in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – E7 – A – C#7
How it goes
The Cruel War Is Raging sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; E7 is E, G#, B and D; C#7 is C#, E#, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIE7V7AIC#7III7- AA · C# · E
- E7E · G# · B · D
- C#7C# · E# · G# · B
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
How it goes
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: A – D – A
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ADA- DD · F# · A
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Questions about The Cruel War Is Raging
What chords are in The Cruel War Is Raging?
The loop is A – E7 – A – C#7 (I – V7 – I – III7) in A major, and the song ends on A – D – A.
What key is The Cruel War Is Raging in?
A major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in The Cruel War Is Raging?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Cruel War Is Raging 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.