Piano Cover of "We Lift Him Higher"

"We Lift Him Higher" by Benjamin Dube is what happens when a South African gospel legend writes a praise song for the modern church. Big, bright, unashamedly celebratory. Built to be played loud. Keep it lifted without stepping on the choir's exit.

1. The key: A♭ major

A♭ is Dube's home key. A lot of his catalogue lives here. Scale: A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, Gdim. Song works off 1, 4, 5 and 6m.

2. The chord shape

Praise-anthem shape: a driving 1 to 5 to 6m to 4 loop that resolves through a 5sus to 5 back to the 1. Some sections push the 6m for extra length. Do not rush the returns. Dube writes with room to breathe. The Dube recording is the pace reference.

3. The Sunday-ready play

• Right hand: full triads with the top note doubled octave up. A♭ as A♭, C, E♭, A♭.
• Left hand: root-fifth walking pattern. A♭ (beat 1) to E♭ (beat 2 upbeat) to A♭ octave up (beat 3) to E♭ (beat 4 upbeat).
• One move to add: before the 5 (E♭), throw in a ♭7 (G♭) backdoor. Dube trademark. Makes his praise feel gospel and not just pop.

4. When the leader calls a different key

Praise sets modulate up for the last chorus. Numbers hold. Gig Mode transposes the chart.

Next step

Chase with Siyabonga Jesu. Same key, same praise family.