Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play I’ll Be Home on piano
Written by Ferdinand Washington & Stan Lewis
- C major
- 2/2
- 85 BPM
- V7–I–I7–IV loop
- 1955
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn I’ll Be Home in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – C7 – F
How it goes
I’ll Be Home sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIC7I7FIV- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
How it goes
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
How it goes
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 85 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- DmD · F · A
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Questions about I’ll Be Home
What chords are in I’ll Be Home?
The loop is G7 – C – C7 – F (V7 – I – I7 – IV) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is I’ll Be Home in?
C major, at about 85 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in I’ll Be Home?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I’ll Be Home 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.