Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Not To Us on piano
Written by Chris Tomlin & Jesse Reeves
- C major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- vi–V–IV–I loop
- 2001
- Easy
Learn Not To Us in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – G – F – C
Not To Us sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; G is G, B and D; F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviGVFIVCI- AmA · C · E
- GG · B · D
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
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: Swing push
Three chords tumble out early with a swing, then the bar breathes. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: G – F – C
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GFC
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Questions about Not To Us
What chords are in Not To Us?
The loop is Am – G – F – C (vi – V – IV – I) in C major, and the song ends on G – F – C.
What key is Not To Us in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Not To Us?
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 Not To Us 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.