Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Hold It Against Me on piano
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 133 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hold It Against Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – Ab – Bb – Gm
How it goes
Hold It Against Me sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmviAbIVBbVGmiii- CmC · Eb · G
- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- GmG · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 133 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Hold It Against Me
What chords are in Hold It Against Me?
The loop is Cm – Ab – Bb – Gm (vi – IV – V – iii) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Hold It Against Me in?
Eb major, at about 133 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hold It Against Me?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hold It Against Me 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.