Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play 4 Broken Hearts on piano
Written by Norah Jones & Brian Burton
- D minor
- 4/4
- 66 BPM
- 2012
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn 4 Broken Hearts in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – Dm – Am – G
How it goes
4 Broken Hearts sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Dm is D, F and A; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIVDmiAmvGIV- GG · B · D
- DmD · F · A
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
How it goes
Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
How it goes
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 66 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 – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about 4 Broken Hearts
What chords are in 4 Broken Hearts?
The loop is G – Dm – Am – G (IV – i – v – IV) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is 4 Broken Hearts in?
D minor, at about 66 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in 4 Broken Hearts?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is 4 Broken Hearts 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.