Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Shape Of You on piano
By Ed Sheeran
- C# minor
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- Medium
Learn Shape Of You in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C#m – F#m – A – Bsus4 – B – C#m – F#m – A – B
Shape Of You sits in C# minor: C# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 9 chords: C#m is C#, E and G#; F#m is F#, A and C#; A is A, C# and E; Bsus4 is B, E and F#; B is B, D# and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C#miF#mivAVIBsus4VIIsus4BVIIC#miF#mivAVIBVII- C#mC# · E · G#
- F#mF# · A · C#
- AA · C# · E
- Bsus4B · E · F#
- BB · D# · F#
- 2
Left hand: Double island pulse
The island rhythm squeezed in twice per bar: quick and dancy. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& · 3 · 3a · 4& (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 122 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Ticking clock
One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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: A – B – C#m
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABC#m
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Questions about Shape Of You
What chords are in Shape Of You?
The loop is C#m – F#m – A – Bsus4 – B – C#m – F#m – A – B (i – iv – VI – VIIsus4 – VII – i – iv – VI – VII) in C# minor, and the song ends on A – B – C#m.
What key is Shape Of You in?
C# minor, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Shape Of You?
Double island pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& · 3 · 3a · 4&, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Shape Of You easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 9 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Shape Of You?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.