Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Hold Me (In Your Arms) on piano
- D major
- 4/4
- 60 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hold Me (In Your Arms) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – A – D – F#m
How it goes
Hold Me (In Your Arms) sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A; F#m is F#, A and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIVAVDIF#miii- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- F#mF# · A · C#
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
How it goes
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 60 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
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Questions about Hold Me (In Your Arms)
What chords are in Hold Me (In Your Arms)?
The loop is G – A – D – F#m (IV – V – I – iii) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Hold Me (In Your Arms) in?
D major, at about 60 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hold Me (In Your Arms)?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hold Me (In Your Arms) 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.