Piano Cover of "Messiah"

These Messiah piano chords are in C major, which makes this one of the friendliest songs on the site to start with. The song is by Benjamin Dube featuring Collin, it runs at 110 BPM, and it’s built around a lead vocal and a choir answering each other. Don’t let the white-key key fool you, though: the trick is making simple chords sound rich.

Reverent, but moving

At 110 BPM, Messiah has a steady mid-tempo groove. It’s a song of adoration, with a reverent feel even while it moves. In a service, it works well in the stretch between praise and deep worship, when the leader wants people singing with their hearts rather than their feet. The lead singer and choir trade lines, so listen for when each one comes in and leave room for both.

C major: the setup

C major has no sharps or flats: C, D, E, F, G, A and B. That’s the good news. The bad news is that plain triads in C can sound thin and childish if you’re not careful. More on that below. First, your chords in Nashville numbers:

• 1 = C (C, E, G)
• 2m = Dm (D, F, A)
• 3m = Em (E, G, B)
• 4 = F (F, A, C)
• 5 = G (G, B, D)
• 6m = Am (A, C, E)

For sound, go with a full acoustic piano. If you have a Rhodes-style electric piano, try layering it in quietly for warmth.

Working out the Messiah piano chords

We haven’t charted Messiah yet, so I won’t give you a progression I can’t back up. It’s a major-key song in the 1, 4, 5, 6m family, and the chords above cover what you’ll hear. Mid-tempo South African gospel songs like this often have a verse that settles and a chorus that opens up, so as you listen, notice where the choir gets louder and where the bass climbs.

Play along with the video above and pick out the bass notes first. In C that’s easy to see on the keyboard, which makes this a great song for training your ear. If you want to sharpen that skill, spend a few minutes in the Ear Trainer this week.

Making C major sound like gospel

• Right hand: four-note voicings. Instead of plain C, play Cmaj7 (C, E, G, B) or Cadd9 (C, D, E, G). Instead of plain F, try Fmaj7 (F, A, C, E). The extra notes turn a nursery-rhyme key into something that sounds like church.
• Left hand: root on beat 1 and fifth on beat 3. Simple, steady, in time with the bass player.
• Minor chords: make them 7ths. Am7 (A, C, E, G) and Dm7 (D, F, A, C) are much warmer than the plain triads.
• One gospel move: the 2m7 to 5 turnaround. Before a section lands on the 1, play Dm7 then G, then resolve to C. If you want more colour, make the G a G7 (G, B, D, F).

If the key changes

C is a medium key that suits plenty of voices, but leaders do sometimes ask to move it up for the choir. If they do, D or E♭ are natural steps up. Your numbers don’t change: the 2m7 to 5 to 1 in C is Dm7, G, C; in D it’s Em7, A, D. Gig Mode will give you the letters, and our piano chords library shows each chord in every key.

Your 15-minute plan

1. 4 minutes: play Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G and Am7 in order. Get used to the four-note shapes.
2. 4 minutes: the Dm7, G, C turnaround, over and over, until it’s automatic.
3. 4 minutes: left hand along with the video, roots and fifths.
4. 3 minutes: both hands with the video, keeping it gentle.

Quick questions

What key is Messiah by Benjamin Dube in?

Our version is in C major at 110 BPM.

Is Messiah good for beginners?

Yes. The key is easy, so it’s a good song for practising richer voicings.

Want to compare with another South African gospel song? Have a look at our chart for Ndenzel’ Uncedo.