Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The Impossible on piano
By James Arthur
- D minor
- 12/8
- 100 BPM
- 2010
- Easy
Learn The Impossible in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bbmaj7 – Am7 – C – Gm7 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Bbmaj7 – Am7
The Impossible sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Bbmaj7 is Bb, D, F and A; Am7 is A, C, E and G; C is C, E and G; Gm7 is G, Bb, D and F; Fmaj7 is F, A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bbmaj7VImaj7Am7v7CVIIGm7iv7Fmaj7IIImaj7Gm7iv7Bbmaj7VImaj7Am7v7- Bbmaj7Bb · D · F · A
- Am7A · C · E · G
- CC · E · G
- Gm7G · Bb · D · F
- Fmaj7F · A · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Little march
A chord, then a single low note: left, right, like a little march. Musicians call it lh chords (2/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 278 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Polka-hop chords
Chords only on the “ands” in a quick two-beat bar: the “pah” of a polka. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Bb – C – Dm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- DmD · F · A
Play next
Questions about The Impossible
What chords are in The Impossible?
The loop is Bbmaj7 – Am7 – C – Gm7 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Bbmaj7 – Am7 (VImaj7 – v7 – VII – iv7 – IIImaj7 – iv7 – VImaj7 – v7) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is The Impossible in?
D minor, at about 100 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in The Impossible?
Little march: lh chords (2/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Impossible easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of The Impossible?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.