Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Cry Me A River on piano
- A minor
- 2/2
- 74 BPM
- Easy
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: Am – E7 – F – Ddim
Cry Me A River sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; E7 is E, G#, B and D; F is F, A and C; Ddim is D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmiE7V7FVIDdimiv°- AmA · C · E
- E7E · G# · B · D
- FF · A · C
- DdimD · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Three-step climb
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: Double-clap chords
Quick double claps on beats 2 and 4, leaving beats 1 and 3 empty. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 74 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: F – G – Am
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm- GG · B · D
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Questions about Cry Me A River
What chords are in Cry Me A River?
The loop is Am – E7 – F – Ddim (i – V7 – VI – iv°) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.
What key is Cry Me A River in?
A minor, at about 74 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Cry Me A River?
Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, 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?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Cry Me A River?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.