Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play I Can't Take You Anywhere on piano
By Scotty Emerick with Toby Keith
- F major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–vi–ii–IV loop
- 2001
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn I Can't Take You Anywhere in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Dm – Gm – Bb
How it goes
I Can't Take You Anywhere sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Dm is D, F and A; Gm is G, Bb and D; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIDmviGmiiBbIV- FF · A · C
- DmD · F · A
- GmG · Bb · D
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Dancing heartbeat
How it goes
Notes dance around the beats, pushing ahead on the “ands”. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 245 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 100 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: Gm – Bb – F
How it goes
The last chords are ii – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmBbF
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Questions about I Can't Take You Anywhere
What chords are in I Can't Take You Anywhere?
The loop is F – Dm – Gm – Bb (I – vi – ii – IV) in F major, and the song ends on Gm – Bb – F.
What key is I Can't Take You Anywhere in?
F major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in I Can't Take You Anywhere?
Dancing heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I Can't Take You Anywhere 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.