Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play I Don’t Know Why on piano
Written by Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon & others
- A minor
- 4/4
- 117 BPM
- 2017
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn I Don’t Know Why in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Am – Dm – F
How it goes
I Don’t Know Why sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FVIAmiDmivFVI- FF · A · C
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 117 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: F – G – Am
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm- GG · B · D
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Questions about I Don’t Know Why
What chords are in I Don’t Know Why?
The loop is F – Am – Dm – F (bVI – i – iv – bVI) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.
What key is I Don’t Know Why in?
A minor, at about 117 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in I Don’t Know Why?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I Don’t Know Why 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.