Piano Cover of "You Are"

"You Are" by HLE (Hlengiwe, Lindokuhle, Ekele) is South African contemporary worship in A. HLE's vocal harmonies define the arrangement. The piano's job is to give them the harmonic ground to sit on.

1. The key: A major

A major. Scale: A, Bm, C♯m, D, E, F♯m, G♯dim.

2. The chord shape

Verse: 1 to 6m to 4 to 5, standard. Chorus: 4 to 5 to 3m to 6m to 4 to 5 to 1. The 3m (C♯m) drop in the chorus is the trademark. Watch the HLE recording for the vocal blend.

3. The Sunday-ready play

• Right hand: triads with the octave doubled on top. Clean and open.
• Left hand: root, fifth, root pattern. Steady.
• One move to add: the 3m to 6m descent in the chorus is the emotional core. Voice both as m7 chords (C♯m7 to F♯m7) and hold each for two full beats.

4. When the leader calls a different key

Trios adjust for the lead vocalist. Numbers hold. Gig Mode.

Next step

Follow with Your Glory. Same A, slower, Ntokozo Mbambo.