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Interactive piano tutorial for "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" by Gil Scott-Heron, in C minor at about 136 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Slow it down to learn it at your own pace.

Interactive piano roll preview for "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" by Gil Scott-Heron
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Preview of the interactive piano roll for “Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?” by Gil Scott-Heron.

Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?
Piano Tutorial

Piano rollFalling notes

This interactive piano roll is a play-along piano tutorial for "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" by Gil Scott-Heron, and one of the simplest ways to learn the song on piano. Every note falls onto the keyboard so you can see exactly what to play and when, and you can slow it right down to work through the fast parts before building back up to full speed.

Inside the music
Signature

Music DNA

Genrespoken word · jazz · blues
Moodthoughtful · soulful · protest
Signaturespoken word over a bluesy jazz backdrop
C minor
Key
136
BPM
4/4
Time
Chords

The progression

Cm
A
Gm
G
F
E
Fm7
F7
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVerseChorusVerseChorusBridgeChorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

vocals
male spoken‑word delivery, clear and resonant, with a conversational yet urgent tone
bass
round, syncopated, providing a steady, grooving foundation
piano
warm, slightly reverberant, playing sparse, blues‑inflected chords
drums
light, brushed kit with subtle swing, keeping a relaxed 4/4 pulse
Album & artist
ALBUM

Evolution (And Flashback) (1999)

All of Evolution (And Flashback)
Artist

Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011) was an American singer, poet, and musician from Chicago who spent much of his life in New York. He worked across jazz, soul, and spoken word, weaving sharp social and political commentary into his music and poetry. His work in the 1970s laid important groundwork for what would later become rap and hip-hop.

All Gil Scott-Heron songs
How it works

From a recording to your part in three steps

  1. Step 1
    Bring the recording

    Paste a YouTube link or upload an audio file, the studio cut, a live take, or a cover.

  2. Step 2
    We transcribe it

    Our model listens and arranges this exact performance for piano.

  3. Step 3
    Play & export

    Read it on screen, transpose, slow it down, and export the piano tutorial when it feels right.

Ready to play it?

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FAQ

Good to know

What key is "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" in?

"Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" by Gil Scott-Heron is in C minor.

What is the tempo of "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?"?

"Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" plays at around 136 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chords are in "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?"?

The core progression is Cm, A♭, Gm, G, F, and E♭, built around the C minor tonal center.

What instruments play on "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?"?

The recording features piano, bass, drums, and vocals.

Can I get a piano roll for "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?"?

Yes. Songscription turns "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" by Gil Scott-Heron into an interactive piano roll you can play along with.

Is "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" piano tutorial easy to learn?

The piano roll shows every note of "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" falling onto the keys, and you can slow it right down so the fast parts come a few notes at a time. At 136 BPM in C minor, it is very learnable once you ease off the speed.

What album is "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" on?

"Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul?" appears on Evolution (And Flashback) (1999).

How does Songscription turn a song into sheet music?

Give it a recording, a YouTube link or an audio file, and its AI transcribes that performance into notation for the instrument and level you choose.

Can I get sheet music for a live or cover version?

Yes. The score is generated from whatever recording you pick, so a live take, a remix, or a cover each match that exact performance.

What instruments and formats are available?

Piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, sax, bass, drums, vocals and more, as standard sheet music, a piano roll, or guitar tabs.

Is Songscription free to use?

You can try it free, with no credit card needed.

Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?

Yes. You get a downloadable PDF, plus in-app playback and the option to transpose or adjust the arrangement before you print.

How accurate is the transcription?

It is produced by AI trained on millions of bars of music, and you can play it back and fine-tune any details before you download.

Is this transcription licensed?

Yes. We have licensed this track from its publisher, so we are permitted to transcribe it and provide the sheet music to you.

Transcribed from licensed catalogs by AI trained on millions of bars of music.

Made with in California.