Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Watch What Happens on piano
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- 1964
- Easy
Learn Watch What Happens in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – Cm – Fm – Cm – G7 – Cm – Bb – Bb7
Watch What Happens sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; Cm is C, Eb and G; Fm is F, Ab and C; Bb is Bb, D and F; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7III7CmviFmiiCmviG7III7CmviBbVBb7V7- G7G · B · D · F
- CmC · Eb · G
- FmF · Ab · C
- BbBb · D · F
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Sneaky heartbeat
One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 436 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Watch What Happens
What chords are in Watch What Happens?
The loop is G7 – Cm – Fm – Cm – G7 – Cm – Bb – Bb7 (III7 – vi – ii – vi – III7 – vi – V – V7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Watch What Happens in?
Eb major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Watch What Happens?
Sneaky heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Watch What Happens 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 Watch What Happens?
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.