Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Patience on piano
Written by Shawn Mendes, Scott Harris & others
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Patience in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm7 – Bb – Eb – Absus4 – Cm7 – Bb – Eb – Absus4
How it goes
Patience sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Cm7 is C, Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Absus4 is Ab, Db and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Cm7vi7BbVEbIAbsus4IVsus4Cm7vi7BbVEbIAbsus4IVsus4- Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- Absus4Ab · Db · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
How it goes
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: Cm – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are vi – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CmBbEb- CmC · Eb · G
Play next
Questions about Patience
What chords are in Patience?
The loop is Cm7 – Bb – Eb – Absus4 – Cm7 – Bb – Eb – Absus4 (vi7 – V – I – IVsus4 – vi7 – V – I – IVsus4) in Eb major, and the song ends on Cm – Bb – Eb.
What key is Patience in?
Eb major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Patience?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Patience easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Patience?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.