Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Back To You on piano
By John Mayer
- F# minor
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 2001
- Easy
Learn Back To You in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F#m7 – F#m7 – B7 – Esus4
Back To You sits in F# minor: F# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F#m7 is F#, A, C# and E; B7 is B, D#, F# and A; Esus4 is E, A and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F#m7i7F#m7i7B7IV7Esus4VIIsus4- F#m7F# · A · C# · E
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- Esus4E · A · B
- 2
Left hand: Hiccup heartbeat
A tiny hiccup just before beat 3, then a push on the “and”. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 121 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 100 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: D – E – F#m
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEF#m- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- F#mF# · A · C#
Play next
Questions about Back To You
What chords are in Back To You?
The loop is F#m7 – F#m7 – B7 – Esus4 (i7 – IV7 – VIIsus4 – i7) in F# minor, and the song ends on D – E – F#m.
What key is Back To You in?
F# minor, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Back To You?
Hiccup heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Back To You 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Back To You?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.