Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Cry Me A River on piano
By Arthur Hamilton
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 85 BPM
- 1953
- Medium
Learn Cry Me A River in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – Ab – Cm – Cm7 – Fm7 – Bb7 – Ebmaj7 – Dm7 – G7
Cry Me A River sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 9 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Cm7 is C, Eb, G and Bb; Fm7 is F, Ab, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Ebmaj7 is Eb, G, Bb and D; Dm7 is D, F, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmviAbIVCmviCm7vi7Fm7ii7Bb7V7Ebmaj7Imaj7Dm7vii7G7III7- CmC · Eb · G
- AbAb · C · Eb
- Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
- Fm7F · Ab · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- Ebmaj7Eb · G · Bb · D
- Dm7D · F · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
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: Rocking thirds
Two neighbouring chord notes rocking back and forth, soft and sweet. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 85 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Cry Me A River
What chords are in Cry Me A River?
The loop is Cm – Ab – Cm – Cm7 – Fm7 – Bb7 – Ebmaj7 – Dm7 – G7 (vi – IV – vi – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – vii7 – III7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Cry Me A River in?
Eb major, at about 85 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Cry Me A River?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Cry Me A River easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 9 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Cry Me A River?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.