Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Games People Play on piano
By Joe South
- F major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- IV–V–I–V loop
- 1968
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Games People Play in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – C – F – C
How it goes
Games People Play sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVCVFICV- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
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Questions about Games People Play
What chords are in Games People Play?
The loop is Bb – C – F – C (IV – V – I – V) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Games People Play in?
F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Games People Play?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Games People Play 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.