Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play 100 Years on piano

Tuning the piano…

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Learn 100 Years in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D7 – Em7 – Em – D – D – D – Bm7
100 Years sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; Em7 is E, G, B and D; Em is E, G and B; D is D, F# and A; Bm7 is B, D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7V7Em7vi7EmviDVDVDVBm7iii7
- D7D · F# · A · C
- Em7E · G · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- DD · F# · A
- Bm7B · D · F# · A
202 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Island pulse
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Island pulseRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Offbeat skankOffbeat chords · Blues and boogie-woogieRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 BPM
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: C – D – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D

What chords are in 100 Years?

The loop is D7 – Em7 – Em – D – D – D – Bm7 (V7 – vi7 – vi – V – iii7 – V7 – vi7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is 100 Years in?

G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in 100 Years?

Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is 100 Years 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 100 Years?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune 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.