Piano chords · Bossa beach

How to play Back To December on piano

Tuning the piano…

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Learn Back To December in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D – Bm – G – D
Back To December sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Bm is B, D and F#; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIBmviGIVDI
- DD · F# · A
- BmB · D · F#
- GG · B · D
121 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Wobbly chords
Two off-balance chords on the “ands”, then a firm landing on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Wobbly chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 138 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in Back To December?

The loop is D – Bm – G – D (I – vi – IV – I) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is Back To December in?

D major, at about 138 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Back To December?

Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Back To December 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.