Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Light Me Up on piano
Written by Ingrid Michaelson, Katie Herzig & others
- G major
- 2/2
- 144 BPM
- V–vi–IV–V loop
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Light Me Up in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – Em – C – D
How it goes
Light Me Up sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DVEmviCIVDV- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
How it goes
Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 144 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- GG · B · D
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Questions about Light Me Up
What chords are in Light Me Up?
The loop is D – Em – C – D (V – vi – IV – V) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Light Me Up in?
G major, at about 144 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Light Me Up?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Light Me 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.