Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Makin’ Up For Lost Time on piano
Written by Dave Loggins & Gary Morris
- C major
- 4/4
- 112 BPM
- I–V–I–V loop
- 1985
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Makin’ Up For Lost Time in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – G – C – G
How it goes
Makin’ Up For Lost Time sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIGVCIGV- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Rocking thirds
How it goes
Two neighbouring chord notes rocking back and forth, soft and sweet. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 112 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
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Questions about Makin’ Up For Lost Time
What chords are in Makin’ Up For Lost Time?
The loop is C – G – C – G (I – V – I – V) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Makin’ Up For Lost Time in?
C major, at about 112 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Makin’ Up For Lost Time?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Makin’ Up For Lost Time easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.