How to Play It's a Man's Man's Man's World on Piano (James Brown Tutorial)

It's a Man's Man's Man's World is played in Eb minor with a 6/8 feel, alternating Eb minor and Bb minor every six beats over left-hand octaves, with a turnaround of Ab minor to Bb7.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Beginner · 11 min

Can't see the video? Watch it on YouTube.

This lesson from Jason Zac at Nathaniel School of Music breaks down James Brown's soul classic It's a Man's Man's Man's World for piano. It suits beginners who know basic triads and want to capture the slow, groovy feel of the song rather than just the notes.

The 6/8 Feel

The song is counted in 6/8: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Some people hear it as 3/4, but counting in six matches how the groove is felt. Listen to the drums to stay on track: the kick lands on beat 1 and the snare on beat 4. The hi-hats fill in the flowing pulse between them.

The Key and Main Chords

The whole song is in Eb minor and is driven mostly by two minor chords:

• Eb minor: Eb, Gb, Bb
• Bb minor: Bb, Db, F

On piano, play both in first inversion, so the root sits at the top. That gives Gb, Bb, Eb for Eb minor and Db, F, Bb for Bb minor. These two shapes sit close together and move smoothly.

Building the Piano Part

1. In the left hand, play the root of each chord in octaves: Eb, then Bb.
2. In the right hand, play the full chord on each beat.
3. Switch between Eb minor and Bb minor after every six beats.
4. Add accents so it groups as 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3: strong on beats 1 and 4, softer on the others.

The accents are what make the part sound human. Without them, the steady chords can sound like they were programmed into software. Guitar players can use the same approach.

Adding Bass Movement

To be more creative in the left hand, try adding a different bass note on beat 6, the last beat of the bar. Pick notes from the Eb minor scale that sit between the two roots, so the bass leads into the next chord.

The Turnaround Section

After the Eb minor and Bb minor section, the song moves to a turnaround:

• Ab minor (Ab, Cb, Eb, which you may also see written as G# minor) for two cycles of six
• Bb7 (Bb, D, F, Ab) for two cycles of six

A dominant seventh is a major chord with a flat seventh added. For Bb7 that seventh is Ab, and Jason plays the Ab below the rest of the chord. If the seventh feels too hard for now, just play a Bb major chord instead.

Other Parts: Strings, Horns and the Intro

Beyond the chords, the arrangement has a pizzicato string section, very high violins over the turnaround and a horn part near the start. The dramatic orchestral intro is what hooks the listener. It begins with rising power chords (fifths) on Eb, F, F#, Ab and Bb. Then come descending semiquaver runs, each starting on the next lower note of the scale: Ab, F#, F, Eb, Db and B. The intro finishes with a chromatic move from F down to Db and lands on a Db7 chord before the song begins.

How to Practise

• Count 1 to 6 aloud and clap the kick on 1 and the snare on 4 before you play.
• Loop Eb minor to Bb minor with the accents until the groove feels natural.
• Add the turnaround, starting with Bb major and moving to Bb7 when you are ready.
• Play along with the recording and try the intro and string lines last.

Jason encourages you to learn from the song, not only play it. Once you understand its feel and chord choices, you can write something with a similar vibe. He points to Alicia Keys' Fallin' as an example of another song with this kind of feel.

Questions about this lesson

What key is It's a Man's Man's Man's World in?

The song is in Eb minor. Most of it alternates between Eb minor and Bb minor, with a turnaround to Ab minor and Bb7.

Is It's a Man's Man's Man's World in 6/8 or 3/4?

It can be argued either way, but it is easiest to count in 6/8 because that matches how the groove is felt. The kick falls on beat 1 and the snare on beat 4.

What inversion should I use for the chords?

Play Eb minor and Bb minor in first inversion, with the root on top. That gives Gb Bb Eb for Eb minor and Db F Bb for Bb minor.

What if I can't play the Bb7 chord?

You can leave out the seventh and play a plain Bb major chord. When you are ready, add the Ab, played below the other chord notes.

Practise it

• Rhythm TeacherBuild accent patterns, divide beats and explore odd metres and polyrhythms.
• WoodshedKeep a practice record, set goals and work on songs with tools for looping, changing speed and changing key.
• 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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