Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The One on piano
Written by Andrew Taggart, Scott Harris & others
- D major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 2017
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The One in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bm – G – D – Bm – G – D
How it goes
The One sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmviGIVDIBmviGIVDI- BmB · D · F#
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Late-hop footsteps
How it goes
Steady low-high steps with one quick extra hop after beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 659 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. 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: Bm – G – D
How it goes
The last chords are vi – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BmGD
Play next
Questions about The One
What chords are in The One?
The loop is Bm – G – D – Bm – G – D (vi – IV – I – vi – IV – I) in D major, and the song ends on Bm – G – D.
What key is The One in?
D major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The One?
Late-hop footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The One easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 6 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of The One?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.