Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Be Still And Know on piano
By Christy Nockels
- C major
- 4/4
- 56 BPM
- I–V–vi–V loop
- 2006
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Be Still And Know in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – G – Am – G
How it goes
Be Still And Know sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIGVAmviGV- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Round-trip ripple
How it goes
Climbs to the octave and comes straight back home, then rests. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 123 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 56 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: Am – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are vi – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmGC
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Questions about Be Still And Know
What chords are in Be Still And Know?
The loop is C – G – Am – G (I – V – vi – V) in C major, and the song ends on Am – G – C.
What key is Be Still And Know in?
C major, at about 56 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Be Still And Know?
Round-trip ripple: broken chord 1-5-8-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Be Still And Know 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.