Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play I Believe on piano
Written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham & others
- C major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- ii–V7–I–IV loop
- 1952
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn I Believe in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Dm – G7 – C – F
How it goes
I Believe sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmiiG7V7CIFIV- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Gentle rocking
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, fifth: the gentle rocking under countless pop ballads. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 696 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 110 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: Dm – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmG7C
Play next
Questions about I Believe
What chords are in I Believe?
The loop is Dm – G7 – C – F (ii – V7 – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is I Believe in?
C major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in I Believe?
Gentle rocking: broken chord 1-5-8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I Believe 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.