Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Midnight Memories on piano
Written by John Ryan, Jamie Scott & others
- E major
- 4/4
- 158 BPM
- 2013
- Easy
Learn Midnight Memories in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – C – E – A
Midnight Memories sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; C is C, E and G; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EICbVIEIAIV- EE · G# · B
- CC · E · G
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
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: Lub-dub chords
Two quick chords, a pause, two quick chords: just like a heartbeat. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 158 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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- BB · D# · F#
Play next
Questions about Midnight Memories
What chords are in Midnight Memories?
The loop is E – C – E – A (I5 – bVI – I – IV) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Midnight Memories in?
E major, at about 158 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Midnight Memories?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Midnight Memories 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.