Tears In Heaven Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Tears In Heaven in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: C# – A7 – F#m7 – F# – G#m7 – Bm – E7
How it goes
Tears In Heaven sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: C# is C#, E# and G#; A7 is A, C#, E and G; F#m7 is F#, A, C# and E; F# is F#, A# and C#; G#m7 is G#, B, D# and F#; Bm is B, D and F#; E7 is E, G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C#IIIA7I7F#m7vi7F#VIG#m7vii7BmiiE7V7
- C#C# · E# · G#
- A7A · C# · E · G
- F#m7F# · A · C# · E
- F#F# · A# · C#
- G#m7G# · B · D# · F#
- BmB · D · F#
- E7E · G# · B · D
100 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bouncy-ball heartbeat
How it goes
A low note, then high bounces on every “and”, like a bouncing ball. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1& · 2& · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 203 songs of the library.
Bouncy-ball heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
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.
Soft chordsBlock chords · BalladRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 88 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: D – E7 – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DE7A
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in Tears In Heaven?

The loop is C# – A7 – F#m7 – F# – G#m7 – Bm – E7 (III – I7 – vi7 – VI – vii7 – ii – V7) in A major, and the song ends on D – E7 – A.

What key is Tears In Heaven in?

A major, at about 88 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Tears In Heaven?

Bouncy-ball heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 1& · 2& · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Tears In Heaven easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Tears In Heaven?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.