Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Theme From “The Greatest American Hero” on piano
By Joey Scarbury
- D major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 1981
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Theme From “The Greatest American Hero” in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – Am7 – A7 – A – D – D
How it goes
Theme From “The Greatest American Hero” sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; Am7 is A, C, E and G; A7 is A, C#, E and G; A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7IV7Am7v7A7V7AVDIDI- G7G · B · D · F
- Am7A · C · E · G
- A7A · C# · E · G
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Freeze-tag footsteps
How it goes
Step, step-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 286 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pony-trot chords
How it goes
Quick trotting chords, then a jump over beat 3 to its “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
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Questions about Theme From “The Greatest American Hero”
What chords are in Theme From “The Greatest American Hero”?
The loop is G7 – Am7 – A7 – A – D – D (IV7 – v7 – V7 – V – I – IV7) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Theme From “The Greatest American Hero” in?
D major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Theme From “The Greatest American Hero”?
Freeze-tag footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Theme From “The Greatest American Hero” easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 6 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Theme From “The Greatest American Hero”?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune 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.