Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
How to play One Last Song on piano
Written by Sam Smith, James Napier & others
- D major
- 12/8
- 68 BPM
- I–ii–I–ii loop
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn One Last Song in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – Em – D – Em
How it goes
One Last Song sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIEmiiDIEmii- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Rocking chair
How it goes
Low, high, low, high, slow and swaying, like a rocking chair. Musicians call it rocking octaves (12/8) (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in 29 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 68 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 – Em – D
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEmD
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Questions about One Last Song
What chords are in One Last Song?
The loop is D – Em – D – Em (I – ii – I – ii) in D major, and the song ends on D – Em – D.
What key is One Last Song in?
D major, at about 68 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in One Last Song?
Rocking chair: rocking octaves (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is One Last Song 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.