Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Power Of One on piano
Written by Israel Houghton & Ricardo Sanchez
- C major
- 4/4
- 93 BPM
- 2009
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Power Of One in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – D – Dm – Am
How it goes
The Power Of One sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; D is D, F# and A; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviDIIDmiiAmvi- AmA · C · E
- DD · F# · A
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Pony-trot pulse
How it goes
Quick trotting notes, then a jump over beat 3 to its “and”. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 114 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 93 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about The Power Of One
What chords are in The Power Of One?
The loop is Am – D – Dm – Am (vi – II – ii – vi) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is The Power Of One in?
C major, at about 93 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Power Of One?
Pony-trot pulse: root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Power Of One 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.