Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play The Stranger on piano

Tuning the piano…

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Learn The Stranger in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Cmaj7 – B – Cmaj7 – E – D – G#dim
The Stranger sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: Cmaj7 is C, E, G and B; B is B, D# and F#; E is E, G# and B; D is D, F# and A; G#dim is G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Cmaj7VImaj7BVCmaj7VImaj7EIDVIIG#dimiii°
- Cmaj7C · E · G · B
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
- DD · F# · A
- G#dimG# · B · D
68 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Stumbling footsteps
Steady steps with one tiny stumble right before beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 146 songs of the library.
Stumbling footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Shy chords
Waits out beat 1, then a chord on 2 and a little double on 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Shy chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 76 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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm
- CC · E · G
- EmE · G · B

What chords are in The Stranger?

The loop is Cmaj7 – B – Cmaj7 – E – D – G#dim (VImaj7 – V – VImaj7 – I – VII – iii°) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.

What key is The Stranger in?

E minor, at about 76 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Stranger?

Stumbling footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Stranger 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 Stranger?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro 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.