Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Far East Man on piano
Written by George Harrison & Ron Wood
- E major
- 4/4
- 69 BPM
- I–ii–I–ii loop
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Far East Man in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – F#m – E – F#m
How it goes
Far East Man sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; F#m is F#, A and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIF#miiEIF#mii- EE · G# · B
- F#mF# · A · C#
- 2
Left hand: Wobbly heartbeat
How it goes
Two off-balance notes on the “ands”, then a firm landing on beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 267 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
How it goes
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 69 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: E – F#m – E
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EF#mE
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Questions about Far East Man
What chords are in Far East Man?
The loop is E – F#m – E – F#m (I – ii – I – ii) in E major, and the song ends on E – F#m – E.
What key is Far East Man in?
E major, at about 69 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Far East Man?
Wobbly heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Far East Man 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.