Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Holding On on piano
By Johnny Stimson
- A major
- 4/4
- 74 BPM
- 2015
- Easy
Learn Holding On in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – F#m – D – A
Holding On sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; F#m is F#, A and C#; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIF#mviDIVAI- AA · C# · E
- F#mF# · A · C#
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Giant steps
A full chord on every beat, low and heavy, like a giant walking. Musicians call it lh chords (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
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 74 BPM
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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- EE · G# · B
Play next
Questions about Holding On
What chords are in Holding On?
The loop is A – F#m – D – A (I5 – vi – IV5 – I5) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Holding On in?
A major, at about 74 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Holding On?
Giant steps: lh chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Holding On 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.