Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play This Woman’s Work on piano
By Kate Bush
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 58 BPM
- 1997
- Easy
Learn This Woman’s Work in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Db – Cm7 – Fm – Bbm7 – Bbm7 – Cm7 – Fm – Bbm7
This Woman’s Work sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Db is Db, F and Ab; Cm7 is C, Eb, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C; Bbm7 is Bb, Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DbIVCm7iii7FmviBbm7ii7Bbm7ii7Cm7iii7FmviBbm7ii7- DbDb · F · Ab
- Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
- Bbm7Bb · Db · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 58 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: Db – Eb – Ab
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
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Questions about This Woman’s Work
What chords are in This Woman’s Work?
The loop is Db – Cm7 – Fm – Bbm7 – Bbm7 – Cm7 – Fm – Bbm7 (IV – iii7 – vi – ii7 – iii7 – vi – ii7 – IV) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is This Woman’s Work in?
Ab major, at about 58 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in This Woman’s Work?
Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is This Woman’s Work easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of This Woman’s Work?
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.