Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play Themes From Sherlock (Main Theme/Watson's Theme/Heroes Theme) on piano

By David Arnold & Michael Price

Tuning the piano…

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Learn Themes From Sherlock (Main Theme/Watson's Theme/Heroes Theme) 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
Themes From Sherlock (Main Theme/Watson's Theme/Heroes Theme) 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: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Offbeat skankOffbeat chords · Blues and boogie-woogieRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 90 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: F – G – C
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

What chords are in Themes From Sherlock (Main Theme/Watson's Theme/Heroes Theme)?

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 Themes From Sherlock (Main Theme/Watson's Theme/Heroes Theme) in?

C major, at about 90 beats a minute in 6/8.

What does the left hand play in Themes From Sherlock (Main Theme/Watson's Theme/Heroes Theme)?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Themes From Sherlock (Main Theme/Watson's Theme/Heroes Theme) easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.