Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Xscape on piano
Written by Michael Jackson, Lashawn Daniels & others
- D major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- 2014
- Medium
Learn Xscape in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – Gm – C7 – D7
Xscape sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7I7GmivC7bVII7D7I7- D7D · F# · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Skipping-stone pulse
One strong note, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 282 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Ticking clock
One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about Xscape
What chords are in Xscape?
The loop is D7 – Gm – C7 – D7 (I7 – iv – bVII7 – I7) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Xscape in?
D major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Xscape?
Skipping-stone pulse: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Xscape 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.