Piano chords · Bossa beach

How to play Losing My Religion on piano

By R.E.M.

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Losing My Religion in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Am7 – Am – Em – F#7 – Em – Am
Losing My Religion sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 6 chords: Am7 is A, C, E and G; Am is A, C and E; Em is E, G and B; F#7 is F#, A#, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Am7vi7AmviEmiiiF#7#IV7EmiiiAmvi
- Am7A · C · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- EmE · G · B
- F#7F# · A# · C# · E
2
Left hand: Bossa sway
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.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Losing My Religion?

The loop is Am7 – Am – Em – F#7 – Em – Am (vi7 – vi – iii – #IV7 – iii – vi) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Losing My Religion in?

C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Losing My Religion?

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 Losing My Religion easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 6 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Losing My Religion?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the bass riff of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.