Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Apologize on piano
By Timbaland featuring OneRepublic
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 69 BPM
- 2007
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Apologize in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Eb – Bb – G7 – Cm7
How it goes
Apologize sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; G7 is G, B, D and F; Cm7 is C, Eb, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIVEbIBbVG7III7Cm7vi7- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- G7G · B · D · F
- Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Run-up chords
How it goes
Four steady chords plus a quick extra one leading into the next bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 69 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb
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Questions about Apologize
What chords are in Apologize?
The loop is Ab – Eb – Bb – G7 – Cm7 (IV – I – V – III7 – vi7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Apologize in?
Eb major, at about 69 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Apologize?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Apologize 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 Apologize?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.