Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play No Apologies on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn No Apologies in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Em – C – Em – C
No Apologies sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: 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.
EmiCVIEmiCVI
- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
54 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Skipping-stone pulse
One strong note, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 282 songs of the library.
Skipping-stone pulseRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pumping chords
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pumping chordsPumping 8ths · RockRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 75 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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in No Apologies?

The loop is Em – C – Em – C (i – bVI – i – bVI) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.

What key is No Apologies in?

E minor, at about 75 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in No Apologies?

Skipping-stone pulse: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is No Apologies 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.