Sentimental Heart Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Sentimental Heart in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: F – C – Dm – C
Sentimental Heart sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVCIDmiiCI
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
53 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Slow-down chords
Quick chords rush through the first half, then slow down to land on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Slow-down chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 100 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: C – Dm – C
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDmC

What chords are in Sentimental Heart?

The loop is F – C – Dm – C (IV – I – ii – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – Dm – C.

What key is Sentimental Heart in?

C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Sentimental Heart?

Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Sentimental Heart 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.