Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Wheels on piano
By Jamie Cullum
- C major
- 4/4
- 138 BPM
- Easy
Learn Wheels in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – Dm – Em – Dm
Wheels sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiiiDmiiEmiiiDmii- EmE · G · B
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bouncy bells
A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 138 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about Wheels
What chords are in Wheels?
The loop is Em – Dm – Em – Dm (iii – ii – iii – ii) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Wheels in?
C major, at about 138 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Wheels?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Wheels 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.