Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Light It Up on piano
By Luke Bryan
- F# minor
- 4/4
- 125 BPM
- i–bVII–bIII–bVI loop
- 2017
- Easy
Learn Light It Up in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F#m – E – A – D
Light It Up sits in F# minor: F# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F#m is F#, A and C#; E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F#miEVIIAIIIDVI- F#mF# · A · C#
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 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 125 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: D – E – F#m
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEF#m
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Questions about Light It Up
What chords are in Light It Up?
The loop is F#m – E – A – D (i – bVII – bIII – bVI) in F# minor, and the song ends on D – E – F#m.
What key is Light It Up in?
F# minor, at about 125 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Light It Up?
Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Light It Up 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.