When The Sun Goes Down Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn When The Sun Goes Down in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: A – D – E – A – D – E – A
When The Sun Goes Down sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIDIVEVAIDIVEVAI
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
215 songs go round the same chords
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.
Pop heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Push chordsSyncopated chords · RockRight handEasy
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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA

What chords are in When The Sun Goes Down?

The loop is A – D – E – A – D – E – A (I – IV – V – I – IV – V – I) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.

What key is When The Sun Goes Down in?

A major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in When The Sun Goes Down?

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 When The Sun Goes Down easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of When The Sun Goes Down?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.