How to Play Ambarsariya on Piano (Fukrey) – Full Tutorial

To play Ambarsariya on piano, set up the syncopated guitar-style groove by playing the first chord twice and the second chord three times, then move through the E minor chord sections such as E minor, D major, E minor and B7 in the chorus.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 24 min

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Ambarsariya from the film Fukrey is a groove-driven song that was really built for the guitar. In this lesson Jason Zac shows pianists how to recreate that catchy strummed feel on the keys and walks through the chords section by section. The whole song sits in E minor. It suits players who know their basic major and minor chords and want to try some richer sounds such as major sevenths, sus4 and half-diminished chords.

Step 1: Get the groove into your system

Before worrying about chords, learn the rhythm. On the guitar it is a steady, repeated strum, and on the piano it becomes a simple pattern:

• Play the first chord twice.
• Play the second chord three times, sustaining the last of the three.

This is the 2-3 trick that runs through most of the song. The rhythm is syncopated: the hits fall off the main beats, which is what makes it groovy rather than sleepy. Counting in sixteenth notes (1 e and a, 2 e and a, 3 e and a, 4 e and a) makes it easiest to place each hit. You can count in eighth notes too, but sixteenths give more precision.

For a more intermediate version, keep a steady pulse in the left hand, like the drummer, and play the syncopated rhythm in the right hand.

Step 2: The intro and the B7 chord

The intro moves around the home chords of E minor, including D major, A minor and B minor, then leads into a B7 chord. B7 is a B major chord (B D# F#) with a flat seventh added on top, which is A, a whole step below the root.

Step 3: Verse 1 and the pre-chorus

The verse uses E minor family chords. A useful way to remember it: B minor is used during the verse, while B major appears just before the chorus.

In the pre-chorus you meet G major 7 (G B D F#). This extension gives the song its colour, but if it feels hard you can simply play a plain G major.

The flamenco-style ending

At the ends of sections, instead of just holding a chord, play its notes one by one, very quickly, from bottom to top. A guitarist gets this naturally from strumming six strings; on the piano you have to roll the notes yourself. It is a handy technique for Latin and Spanish-flavoured music too.

Step 4: The chorus

The chorus is close to the verse but ends on B major instead of B minor. Think of two chords per bar:

1. E minor – D major
2. E minor – B (or B7)

This runs four times, still using the 2-3 rhythm.

Step 5: Post-chorus 1

On the last two lines of the chorus the melody continues but the chords change, hinting at the harmonium interlude. Here the harmony moves from E minor through G major 7 and finishes on E major.

Step 6: Verse 2

Verse 2 has a completely different, slightly dissonant melody. Its chords include G going to D and back to G, then C# minor and D major 7. Each time the verse stops, it lands on Bsus4 to B major. A sus4 chord replaces the third with the fourth, so Bsus4 is B E F#, which then resolves to B D# F#.

Step 7: Post-chorus 2

The second post-chorus has jazzier chords, moving through E minor, E major, G and C, then a F# minor 7 flat 5 (F# A C E) and finally B major. In the note sheet this chord is marked with the half-diminished symbol (ø).

How to practise

• Clap or tap the 2-3 rhythm while counting sixteenth notes until it feels natural.
• Practise each section separately, slowly, before joining them.
• Add left-hand pulse only once the right-hand rhythm is secure.
• Practise rolling chords for the flamenco endings, starting slowly.

Questions about this lesson

What key is Ambarsariya in?

The whole song is in E minor, with the chorus built mainly on E minor, D major, E minor and B or B7.

How do I get the guitar strumming feel on the piano?

Play the first chord twice and the second chord three times, holding the last of the three. Counting in sixteenth notes helps you place these syncopated hits.

What notes are in an F# minor 7 flat 5 chord?

It is F# A C E: an F# minor chord with a flattened fifth plus a minor seventh. It is also called half-diminished and written with the ø symbol.

Can I skip the G major 7 chord?

Yes. If the major seventh extension is difficult, a plain G major chord works in its place.

Practise it

• Rhythm ArithmeticBuild a phrase from sounds and silences, see it become staff notation, and loop it for practice.
• The Dominant SeventhStudy dominant-seventh harmony through musical examples.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

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