Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
When Doves Cry: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Prince
- C major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- IV–vi–V–IV loop
- 1984
- Medium
When Doves Cry written out as piano music: the IV – vi – V – IV loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays island pulse (root bass · tresillo 3-3-2) and the right hand ticking clock.
When Doves Cry chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | IV | F A C |
| 2 | Am | vi | A C E |
| 3 | G | V | G B D |
| 4 | F | IV | F A C |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: island pulse (root bass · tresillo 3-3-2) in the left hand and ticking clock in the right, over the F – Am – G – F chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about When Doves Cry
Does the sheet music for When Doves Cry have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in When Doves Cry?
The loop is F – Am – G – F (IV – vi – V – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is When Doves Cry in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in When Doves Cry?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is When Doves Cry easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.