Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Bittersweet on piano
Written by Sonny Moore & Ellie Goulding
- C major
- 4/4
- 145 BPM
- IV–vi–I–IV loop
- 2012
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Bittersweet in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Am – C – F
How it goes
Bittersweet sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Am is A, C and E; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVAmviCIFIV- FF · A · C
- AmA · C · E
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 145 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Bittersweet
What chords are in Bittersweet?
The loop is F – Am – C – F (IV – vi – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Bittersweet in?
C major, at about 145 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Bittersweet?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Bittersweet 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.