Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play He Oughta Know That By Now on piano
Written by Jeremy Spillman & Clint Ingersoll
- D major
- 4/4
- 108 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 2005
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn He Oughta Know That By Now in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – G – D – G
How it goes
He Oughta Know That By Now sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIGIVDIGIV- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Knock-knock footsteps
How it goes
Step, then a quick knock-knock, a pause, and one last step. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 471 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Swing push
How it goes
Three chords tumble out early with a swing, then the bar breathes. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 108 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- AA · C# · E
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Questions about He Oughta Know That By Now
What chords are in He Oughta Know That By Now?
The loop is D – G – D – G (I – IV – I – IV) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is He Oughta Know That By Now in?
D major, at about 108 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in He Oughta Know That By Now?
Knock-knock footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is He Oughta Know That By Now 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.