Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play For Sentimental Reasons on piano
Written by William Best
- F major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- V7–I–vi–ii loop
- 1945
- Medium
Learn For Sentimental Reasons in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – F – Dm – Gm
For Sentimental Reasons sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7V7FIDmviGmii- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- GmG · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Power fifths
Root and fifth together: big and bold. Musicians call it lh power fifths (left-hand chords), a medium pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about For Sentimental Reasons
What chords are in For Sentimental Reasons?
The loop is C7 – F – Dm – Gm (V7 – I – vi – ii) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is For Sentimental Reasons in?
F major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in For Sentimental Reasons?
Power fifths: lh power fifths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is For Sentimental Reasons easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.