Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Can’t Think Straight on piano
Written by Gilbert O’Sullivan
- F major
- 4/4
- 77 BPM
- I–I7–IV–iv loop
- 1972
- Medium
Learn Can’t Think Straight in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – F7 – Bb – Bbm
Can’t Think Straight sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIF7I7BbIVBbmiv- FF · A · C
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Clockwork chords
Four quick, even chords per short bar, ticking like clockwork. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 77 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- CC · E · G
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Questions about Can’t Think Straight
What chords are in Can’t Think Straight?
The loop is F – F7 – Bb – Bbm (I – I7 – IV – iv) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Can’t Think Straight in?
F major, at about 77 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Can’t Think Straight?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Can’t Think Straight 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.