Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Helplessly Hoping on piano
- G major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 1969
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Helplessly Hoping in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – C – G – D
How it goes
Helplessly Hoping sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmiiCIVGIDV- AmA · C · E
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
How it goes
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. 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: G – C – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GCG
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Questions about Helplessly Hoping
What chords are in Helplessly Hoping?
The loop is Am – C – G – D (ii – IV – I – V) in G major, and the song ends on G – C – G.
What key is Helplessly Hoping in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Helplessly Hoping?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Helplessly Hoping 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.