#Beautiful Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn #Beautiful in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: E – A – B – C#m
#Beautiful sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E; B is B, D# and F#; C#m is C#, E and G#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIAIVBVC#mvi
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- C#mC# · E · G#
34 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Island seesaw
Low, high, low in the three-three-two island rhythm. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 723 songs of the library.
Island seesawRoot–fifth bass · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE

What chords are in #Beautiful?

The loop is E – A – B – C#m (I – IV – V – vi) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.

What key is #Beautiful in?

E major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in #Beautiful?

Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is #Beautiful 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.