Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Closer And Closer Apart on piano
Written by Mary Chapin Carpenter
- F major
- 4/4
- 84 BPM
- IV–V7–I–vi loop
- 2007
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Closer And Closer Apart in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – C7 – F – Dm
How it goes
Closer And Closer Apart sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVC7V7FIDmvi- BbBb · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
How it goes
Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 84 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 – Fsus4 – F
How it goes
The last chords are I – Isus – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FFsus4F- Fsus4F · Bb · C
Play next
Questions about Closer And Closer Apart
What chords are in Closer And Closer Apart?
The loop is Bb – C7 – F – Dm (IV – V7 – I – vi) in F major, and the song ends on F – Fsus4 – F.
What key is Closer And Closer Apart in?
F major, at about 84 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Closer And Closer Apart?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Closer And Closer Apart 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.