Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Perfect Year on piano
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1993
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Perfect Year in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ebmaj7 – Cm7 – Abmaj7 – Fm7 – Ab
How it goes
The Perfect Year sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: Ebmaj7 is Eb, G, Bb and D; Cm7 is C, Eb, G and Bb; Abmaj7 is Ab, C, Eb and G; Fm7 is F, Ab, C and Eb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Ebmaj7Imaj7Cm7vi7Abmaj7IVmaj7Fm7ii7AbIV- Ebmaj7Eb · G · Bb · D
- Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
- Abmaj7Ab · C · Eb · G
- Fm7F · Ab · C · Eb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Sneaky heartbeat
How it goes
One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 436 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Fm – Ab – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are ii – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FmAbEb- FmF · Ab · C
- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about The Perfect Year
What chords are in The Perfect Year?
The loop is Ebmaj7 – Cm7 – Abmaj7 – Fm7 – Ab (Imaj7 – vi7 – IVmaj7 – ii7 – IV) in Eb major, and the song ends on Fm – Ab – Eb.
What key is The Perfect Year in?
Eb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Perfect Year?
Sneaky heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Perfect Year easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of The Perfect Year?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.