Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play How Soon Is Now? on piano
By The Smiths
- F major
- 4/4
- 94 BPM
- 1984
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn How Soon Is Now? in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Bb – F – Ab
How it goes
How Soon Is Now? sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbbIIIBbIVFIAbbIII- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Hurry-and-wait pulse
How it goes
Three quick notes rush out early, then the bass waits for the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 336 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 94 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 – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- CC · E · G
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Questions about How Soon Is Now?
What chords are in How Soon Is Now??
The loop is Ab – Bb – F – Ab (bIII5 – IV5 – I – bIII5) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is How Soon Is Now? in?
F major, at about 94 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in How Soon Is Now??
Hurry-and-wait pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is How Soon Is Now? 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.