Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play How Far I'll Go on piano
By Alessia Cara
- E major
- 4/4
- 145 BPM
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn How Far I'll Go in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F#m7 – B7 – C7 – B7 – C#m7 – F#7 – C#m7 – F#7
How it goes
How Far I'll Go sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: F#m7 is F#, A, C# and E; B7 is B, D#, F# and A; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; C#m7 is C#, E, G# and B; F#7 is F#, A#, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F#m7ii7B7V7C7bVI7B7V7C#m7vi7F#7II7C#m7vi7F#7II7- F#m7F# · A · C# · E
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- C#m7C# · E · G# · B
- F#7F# · A# · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Lazy seesaw
How it goes
A low note, a higher one, a gap, then the higher one again. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 520 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 145 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
Play next
Questions about How Far I'll Go
What chords are in How Far I'll Go?
The loop is F#m7 – B7 – C7 – B7 – C#m7 – F#7 – C#m7 – F#7 (ii7 – V7 – bVI7 – V7 – vi7 – II7 – vi7 – II7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is How Far I'll Go in?
E major, at about 145 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in How Far I'll Go?
Lazy seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is How Far I'll Go easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of How Far I'll Go?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.