Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Be Honest on piano
Written by Jason Mraz & Michael Natter
- D major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- ii–V7–I–vi loop
- 2012
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Be Honest in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – A7 – D – Bm
How it goes
Be Honest sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiiA7V7DIBmvi- EmE · G · B
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Doorbell ding-dong
How it goes
Two high, two low, in a lazy push rhythm: ding-ding, dong-dong. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 472 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sleep-in chords
How it goes
Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Be Honest
What chords are in Be Honest?
The loop is Em – A7 – D – Bm (ii – V7 – I – vi) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Be Honest in?
D major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Be Honest?
Doorbell ding-dong: broken chord 8-8-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Be Honest 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.