Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Hard To Say I'm Sorry on piano
By Chicago
- E major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hard To Say I'm Sorry in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – A – B – G#
How it goes
Hard To Say I'm Sorry sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E; B is B, D# and F#; G# is G#, B# and D#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIAIVBVG#III- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- G#G# · B# · D#
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE
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Questions about Hard To Say I'm Sorry
What chords are in Hard To Say I'm Sorry?
The loop is E – A – B – G# (I – IV – V – III) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Hard To Say I'm Sorry in?
E major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hard To Say I'm Sorry?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hard To Say I'm Sorry 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.