Only Love Can Break Your Heart Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Only Love Can Break Your Heart in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D – G – A – D
How it goes
Only Love Can Break Your Heart sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; G is G, B and D; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIGIVAVDI
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
215 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Waltz roots
How it goes
One low note on each of the three beats: a simple waltz floor. Musicians call it root bass · 3/4 quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 391 songs of the library.
Waltz rootsRoot bass rhythm · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Waltz chords
How it goes
A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz chordsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 150 BPM
How it goes
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 – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD

What chords are in Only Love Can Break Your Heart?

The loop is D – G – A – D (I – IV – V – I) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is Only Love Can Break Your Heart in?

D major, at about 150 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Only Love Can Break Your Heart?

Waltz roots: root bass · 3/4 quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Only Love Can Break Your Heart 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.