Because You Live Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Because You Live in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – D – Em – C
Because You Live sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CVIDVIIEmiCVI
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
26 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Tiptoe heartbeat
One firm note, then three tiptoe steps between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 245 songs of the library.
Tiptoe heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Deep-breath chords
A breath on beat 1, then quick chords pumping to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Deep-breath chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handMedium
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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm

What chords are in Because You Live?

The loop is C – D – Em – C (bVI – bVII – i – bVI) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.

What key is Because You Live in?

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

What does the left hand play in Because You Live?

Tiptoe heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Because You Live easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.