Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Let's Stay Together on piano
By Al Green
- F major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1971
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Let's Stay Together in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gm7 – Am7 – Gm7 – Am7 – Gm7 – Am7 – Gm7 – C7
How it goes
Let's Stay Together sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Gm7 is G, Bb, D and F; Am7 is A, C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Gm7ii7Am7iii7Gm7ii7Am7iii7Gm7ii7Am7iii7Gm7ii7C7V7- Gm7G · Bb · D · F
- Am7A · C · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Dawdling chords
How it goes
Two chords, then a lazy late one after beat 3 that catches up on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Gm – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmCF- GmG · Bb · D
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
Play next
Questions about Let's Stay Together
What chords are in Let's Stay Together?
The loop is Gm7 – Am7 – Gm7 – Am7 – Gm7 – Am7 – Gm7 – C7 (ii7 – iii7 – ii7 – iii7 – ii7 – iii7 – ii7 – V7) in F major, and the song ends on Gm – C – F.
What key is Let's Stay Together in?
F major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Let's Stay Together?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Let's Stay Together easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Let's Stay Together?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the opening of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.