Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play What The Hell on piano
- A major
- 4/4
- 155 BPM
- 2011
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn What The Hell in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – F#m – D – A
How it goes
What The Hell sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; F#m is F#, A and C#; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIVF#mviDIVAI- DD · F# · A
- F#mF# · A · C#
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Eager heartbeat
How it goes
Jumps in early on the “and” before beat 3, like it can’t wait. Musicians call it root bass · pop push 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 403 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Dawdling chords
How it goes
Two chords, then a lazy late one after beat 3 that catches up on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 155 BPM
How it goes
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 – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- EE · G# · B
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Questions about What The Hell
What chords are in What The Hell?
The loop is D – F#m – D – A (IV – vi – IV – I) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is What The Hell in?
A major, at about 155 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in What The Hell?
Eager heartbeat: root bass · pop push 1 · 2 · 2& · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is What The Hell 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.