Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Mercy on piano
By Shawn Mendes
- B minor
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Mercy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – G – Bm – Em – A
How it goes
Mercy sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: Em is E, G and B; G is G, B and D; Bm is B, D and F#; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmivGVIBmiEmivAVII- EmE · G · B
- GG · B · D
- BmB · D · F#
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
How it goes
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Tiptoe chords
How it goes
One firm chord, then three tiptoe chords between the beats. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: G – A – Bm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm
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Questions about Mercy
What chords are in Mercy?
The loop is Em – G – Bm – Em – A (iv – VI – i – iv – VII) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.
What key is Mercy in?
B minor, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Mercy?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mercy easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Mercy?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.