Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Always on piano
By Erasure
- F major
- 4/4
- 104 BPM
- 1994
- Medium
Learn Always in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm – C – F – C
Always sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmviCVFICV- DmD · F · A
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Chugging-train pulse
Chugs along in quick even notes, then takes one tiny breath at the end. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 104 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
Play next
Questions about Always
What chords are in Always?
The loop is Dm – C – F – C (vi – V – I – V) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Always in?
F major, at about 104 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Always?
Chugging-train pulse: root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Always easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.