Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play It’s Gotta Be You on piano
Written by Anthony Egizii & David Musumeci
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 96 BPM
- vi–IV–I–V loop
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn It’s Gotta Be You in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Db – Ab – Eb
How it goes
It’s Gotta Be You sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Db is Db, F and Ab; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmviDbIVAbIEbV- FmF · Ab · C
- DbDb · F · Ab
- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
How it goes
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Swing push
How it goes
Three chords tumble out early with a swing, then the bar breathes. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 96 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: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb
Play next
Questions about It’s Gotta Be You
What chords are in It’s Gotta Be You?
The loop is Fm – Db – Ab – Eb (vi – IV – I – V) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is It’s Gotta Be You in?
Ab major, at about 96 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in It’s Gotta Be You?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is It’s Gotta Be You 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.