The Highwayman Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Highwayman in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Bm – A – G – Bm
The Highwayman sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmiAVIIGVIBmi
- BmB · D · F#
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
25 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Power fifths
Root and fifth together: big and bold. Musicians call it lh power fifths (left-hand chords), a medium pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Power fifthsLeft-hand chords · RockLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 92 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: G – A – Bm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm

What chords are in The Highwayman?

The loop is Bm – A – G – Bm (i – bVII – bVI – i) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.

What key is The Highwayman in?

B minor, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Highwayman?

Power fifths: lh power fifths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Highwayman 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.