Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Open Me on piano
Written by Shawn McDonald
- D major
- 2/2
- 138 BPM
- 2004
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Open Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gsus4 – D – Bm – Gsus4
How it goes
Open Me sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gsus4 is G, C and D; D is D, F# and A; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Gsus4IVsus4DIBmviGsus4IVsus4- Gsus4G · C · D
- DD · F# · A
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Gentle rocking
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, fifth: the gentle rocking under countless pop ballads. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 696 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wobbly chords
How it goes
Two off-balance chords on the “ands”, then a firm landing on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 138 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- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
Play next
Questions about Open Me
What chords are in Open Me?
The loop is Gsus4 – D – Bm – Gsus4 (IVsus – I – vi – IVsus) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Open Me in?
D major, at about 138 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Open Me?
Gentle rocking: broken chord 1-5-8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Open Me 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.