Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play It’s Been A Long, Long Time on piano
Artist unknown
- F major
- 2/2
- 90 BPM
- I–biio–ii–V7 loop
- Easy
Learn It’s Been A Long, Long Time in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – F#dim – Gm – C7
It’s Been A Long, Long Time sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; F#dim is F#, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIF#dimbii°GmiiC7V7- FF · A · C
- F#dimF# · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
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: 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 90 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about It’s Been A Long, Long Time
What chords are in It’s Been A Long, Long Time?
The loop is F – F#dim – Gm – C7 (I – biio – ii – V7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is It’s Been A Long, Long Time in?
F major, at about 90 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in It’s Been A Long, Long Time?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is It’s Been A Long, Long Time 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.