Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Note To Self on piano
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick & others
- C major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- I–IV–I–V loop
- 2006
- Medium
Learn Note To Self in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – G
Note To Self sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIGV- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 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.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: Bb – F – C
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbFC- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Note To Self
What chords are in Note To Self?
The loop is C – F – C – G (I – IV – I – V) in C major, and the song ends on Bb – F – C.
What key is Note To Self in?
C major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Note To Self?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Note To Self 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.