Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play How Am I Supposed To Live Without You on piano
By Michael Bolton
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 72 BPM
- IV–V–iii–vi loop
- 1983
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn How Am I Supposed To Live Without You in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – F – Dm – Gm
How it goes
How Am I Supposed To Live Without You sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIVFVDmiiiGmvi- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- GmG · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Leapfrog pulse
How it goes
One long note, then a quick hop that leaps right into beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2a · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 153 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 72 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: Bb – Cm – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCmBb- BbBb · D · F
- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
What chords are in How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?
The loop is Eb – F – Dm – Gm (IV – V – iii – vi) in Bb major, and the song ends on Bb – Cm – Bb.
What key is How Am I Supposed To Live Without You in?
Bb major, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?
Leapfrog pulse: root bass · 1 · 2a · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is How Am I Supposed To Live Without You 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.