Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play If You Really Knew Me on piano
Written by Marvin Hamlisch
- G major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1979
- Easy
Learn If You Really Knew Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – C – G – C
If You Really Knew Me sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GICIVGICIV- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 80 BPM
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: G – C – G
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GCG
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Questions about If You Really Knew Me
What chords are in If You Really Knew Me?
The loop is G – C – G – C (I – IV – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on G – C – G.
What key is If You Really Knew Me in?
G major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in If You Really Knew Me?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is If You Really Knew Me 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.