Topsy Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Topsy in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Dm – Bb7 – A7 – Dm
Topsy sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmiBb7VI7A7V7Dmi
- DmD · F · A
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- A7A · C# · E · G
14 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Three-step climb
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Three-step climbBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Push chordsSyncopated chords · RockRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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: Bb – C – Dm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Topsy?

The loop is Dm – Bb7 – A7 – Dm (i – bVI7 – V7 – i) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.

What key is Topsy in?

D minor, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Topsy?

Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Topsy 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.