Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Why Have You Left The One on piano
By Crystal Gayle
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 145 BPM
- I–IV–I–V loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Why Have You Left The One in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Eb – Bb – F
How it goes
Why Have You Left The One sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIEbIVBbIFV- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Pop seesaw
How it goes
Two low notes, long then short, then a step up on beat 3. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 294 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Polka-hop chords
How it goes
Chords only on the “ands” in a quick two-beat bar: the “pah” of a polka. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 145 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: Bb – F – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbFBb
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Questions about Why Have You Left The One
What chords are in Why Have You Left The One?
The loop is Bb – Eb – Bb – F (I – IV – I – V) in Bb major, and the song ends on Bb – F – Bb.
What key is Why Have You Left The One in?
Bb major, at about 145 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Why Have You Left The One?
Pop seesaw: root–fifth 1-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Why Have You Left The One easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.