Play "Clocks" by Coldplay on the Piano

"Clocks" has a repetitive pattern that makes this song easy to play. It is a great song to learn if you're just starting out on piano and is also a good way to for more advanced players to wind down and relax.

Steps

  1. To play this song you need to learn the chords. E flat major containing the notes E flat;, G, and B flat;. B flat; minor containing the notes B flat;, D flat;, and F. And F minor, which contains the notes F, A flat;, and C.
  2. There are many inversions of these chords throughout the song. To start the song off play E flat; major in an inversion reading left to right the G above middle C, B flat;, and then E flat; with your right hand. It doesn't really matter what fingers you use to play the chords, but play with a fingering that feels most comfortable to you.
  3. Keeping the inversion of the chord above, move the finger that is on G to F and the finger that was on E flat; to D flat;. Now you have the next chord B flat; minor reading, from left to right, the F above middle C, B flat;, and D flat;.
  4. Yet again, keep the chord that you played above. Move the finger that is on B flat; to A flat; and the finger that is on D flat; to C. You may notice that with each chord you are only moving two fingers to make the next chord.
  5. For each chord the note that is furthest to the right will be 1, the note furthest to the left is 3, and the note in the middle of notes 1 and 3 is 2. Now play the first chord, E flat; major, in this manner 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2.
  6. Go to the next chord, B flat; minor, and play the pattern 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2. It is just like the pattern of the first chord only repeated.
  7. Play the next chord, F minor, the same as you played the first chord with the pattern 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2.
  8. This whole pattern of all three chords is played throughout most of the song in the right hand. Your left hand will play this pattern with your right hand twice when the song first starts.
  9. Your left hand will then go to octaves with a pattern of your pinky playing on 1 and your thumb on 2 and 3 going with the patterns of your right hand. When your right hand plays Eb major your left hand will play an octave of E flat;. With the chord B flat; minor in the right hand, the left will play octaves of B flat;. And with the F minor chord in your right hand you will play an F octave in the left hand.
  10. For the chorus of the song you will continue your left hand pattern. Your right hand will keep the same chords you've been playing, but not in any particular pattern. Experiment with how you play the chords with your right hand. Try playing with each word that is sang in the chorus. You will have to listen to the song to find what you want to play and for when to change chords.
  11. Near the end of the chorus you will hear the singer sing "Singing," you can then play the G above middle C when you hear "Sing" and the E flat; above middle C when you hear "-ing." These notes are not far away from the F minor chord you will be playing around this time in the song.
  12. Near the end of the song you can hear that the left hand sounds like the beginning and that the right hand sounds much higher. This is because the right hand chords inversions change and move up. The E flat; chord now reads, from left to right, the E flat; an octave above middle C, G, and B flat;. B flat; minor now reads, from left to right,the D flat; an octave above middle C, F, and B flat;. F minor now reads from, from left to right, the C an octave above middle C, F, and A flat;.
  13. For each chord the note that is furthest to the right will be 1, the note furthest to the left is 3, and the note in the middle of notes 1 and 3 is 2. This is the same pattern as before only using different inversions of each chord: 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2. For B flat; minor you will play the pattern twice like before.
  14. Listen to the song to put all the pieces above together and you have "Clocks" by Coldplay.
  15. Extra flavor you can add to the song. You may notice that in the song you hear something different happening in the left hand while your right hand is playing the pattern for the B flat; chord. This starts with an octave of E flat; that is below the E flat; that you may have been playing normally. The octave will move up to a B flat; octave. You can play the B flat; octave twice. Your left thumb will play the C right above the B flat; you just played and if you can reach your left pinky can play B flat; with C. Put your thumb back on B flat; and play an octave again. Move down with your left hand to an A flat; octave then bring it down to a G octave and back up to the A flat; octave and hold.



Tips

  • Watch videos of others playing this song for more ideas how to play.
  • Listen to the song many times.
  • Have fun!
  • The chords will not change order they will only change how they look or sound.

Warnings

  • Don't give up!
  • If you get frustrated leave and come back after you've had a break.

Things You'll Need

  • A piano or keyboard to practice.
  • Some prior knowledge of note names on the keyboard.
  • Patience.

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