How to Play Solas on Piano
Jamie Duffy
Solas is a beginner-intermediate piano piece by Jamie Duffy that most students can learn in 3-4 weeks.
Practice tips
The left-hand arpeggio in F major follows a root-5th-octave pattern — practice it until it flows naturally, keeping a consistent gentle tone throughout.
The right-hand melody uses Irish folk-style ornamentation with grace notes — practice these ornaments separately, playing the grace note quickly into the main note.
The emotional climax builds through thicker chords and higher register — save your dynamic peak for the final statement of the theme and gradually wind down to silence.
About this piece
A deeply emotional Irish contemporary piece that went viral on TikTok after the composer's grandmother's passing. The simple, folk-inspired melody over gentle arpeggios creates an intimately moving experience.
Common mistake
Playing the grace notes too slowly, making them sound like written-out notes rather than quick ornaments — they should be almost instantaneous flicks.
How long to learn
Not sure Solas matches your level? Take the free 2-minute piano level quiz — or settle it directly: upload the sheet music and play it back at half speed to see how it feels under your hands.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Solas to play on piano?
Solas is rated Beginner-Intermediate. A deeply emotional Irish contemporary piece that went viral on TikTok after the composer's grandmother's passing.
How long does it take to learn Solas?
For a beginner, expect 3-4 weeks. An intermediate player can learn it in 1 week.
What is the BPM of Solas?
Solas is typically played at 65 BPM, in F major.
What key is Solas in?
Solas is in F major, typically performed at around 65 BPM.
What's the most common mistake when learning Solas?
Playing the grace notes too slowly, making them sound like written-out notes rather than quick ornaments — they should be almost instantaneous flicks.
Where to find the sheet music
- Free scores on IMSLP (Petrucci Music Library)
- Community sheet music on MuseScore
- Wikipedia: Jamie Duffy
Free public-domain editions of works like Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy are on IMSLP. For contemporary works, MuseScore has community arrangements.
Got the PDF? Upload it to Piano Nova — a photo of a printed page works too — and play Solas straight from that edition, at your own tempo.
Ready to practice Solas?
Upload your sheet music and start learning — at your tempo, hands separately, looping the hard parts.
Upload your sheet music — freeFree to start — no card needed. Runs in your browser.