Always On My Mind Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Always On My Mind in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: F – C – Dm – F
Always On My Mind sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FICVDmviFI
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
58 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Lazy footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Swinging bell
A ringing chord, then two low notes swinging back and forth. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Swinging bellBroken-chord figure · Film scoreRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 80 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: Gm – C7 – F
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmC7F
- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb

What chords are in Always On My Mind?

The loop is F – C – Dm – F (I – V – vi – I) in F major, and the song ends on Gm – C7 – F.

What key is Always On My Mind in?

F major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Always On My Mind?

Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Always On My Mind 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.