Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Now Or Never on piano
By Josh Groban
- C minor
- 4/4
- 70 BPM
- Medium
Learn Now Or Never in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Eb – Ab – Eb
Now Or Never sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIEbIIIAbVIEbIII- CC · E · G
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Chugging-train pulse
Chugs along in quick even notes, then takes one tiny breath at the end. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 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
Both hands at 70 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: Ab – Bb – Cm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm- BbBb · D · F
- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about Now Or Never
What chords are in Now Or Never?
The loop is C – Eb – Ab – Eb (I5 – bIII5 – bVI5 – bIII5) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is Now Or Never in?
C minor, at about 70 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Now Or Never?
Chugging-train pulse: root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Now Or Never 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.