Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Not Gon’ Cry on piano

By Mary J. Blige

  • A minor
  • 4/4
  • 56 BPM
  • Easy
Tuning the piano…
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Style

Left hand Push and landThe right hand sings the tuneChords the loop the song repeats most

Learn Not Gon’ Cry in 5 steps

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

  1. 1

    Chords: F – Csus4 – Am – Dm

    Not Gon’ Cry sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Csus4 is C, F and G; Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    FVICsus4IIIsus4AmiDmiv
    • FF · A · C
    • Csus4C · F · G
    • AmA · C · E
    • DmD · F · A
  2. 2

    Left hand: Push and land

    A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.

  3. 3

    Right hand: the chords, held

    In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.

  4. 4

    Both hands at 56 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. 5

    Ending: F – G – Am

    The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.

    FGAm
    • GG · B · D

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Questions about Not Gon’ Cry

What chords are in Not Gon’ Cry?

The loop is F – Csus4 – Am – Dm (bVI – bIIIsus – i – iv) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.

What key is Not Gon’ Cry in?

A minor, at about 56 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Not Gon’ Cry?

Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Not Gon’ Cry 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.