Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Waterloo on piano
By Abba
- D major
- 4/4
- 144 BPM
- 1974
- Easy
Learn Waterloo in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – D – D – A
Waterloo sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIDIDIAV- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 144 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: D – A – D
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DAD
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Questions about Waterloo
What chords are in Waterloo?
The loop is D – D – D – A (I – V – I – V) in D major, and the song ends on D – A – D.
What key is Waterloo in?
D major, at about 144 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Waterloo?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Waterloo 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Waterloo?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part 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.