Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
On Hold: piano accompaniment sheet music
By The XX
- C major
- 4/4
- 125 BPM
- I–vi–IV–ii loop
- 2016
- Medium
On Hold written out as piano music: the I – vi – IV – ii loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays groovy roots (root bass · syncopated 8ths), and the right hand sings the tune.
On Hold chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | I | C E G |
| 2 | Am | vi | A C E |
| 3 | F | IV | F A C |
| 4 | Dm | ii | D F A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: groovy roots (root bass · syncopated 8ths) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the C – Am – F – Dm chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about On Hold
Does the sheet music for On Hold have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in On Hold?
The loop is C – Am – F – Dm (I – vi – IV – ii) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is On Hold in?
C major, at about 125 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in On Hold?
Groovy roots: root bass · syncopated 8ths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is On Hold 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.