Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Don’t Turn Around on piano
By Ace Of Base
- D major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- vi–ii–vi–ii loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Don’t Turn Around in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bm – Em – Bm – Em
How it goes
Don’t Turn Around sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmviEmiiBmviEmii- BmB · D · F#
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Sleepy heartbeat
How it goes
One long note, then a soft double tap in the second half. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 3& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 314 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Don’t Turn Around
What chords are in Don’t Turn Around?
The loop is Bm – Em – Bm – Em (vi – ii – vi – ii) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Don’t Turn Around in?
D major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Don’t Turn Around?
Sleepy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Don’t Turn Around 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.