Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Simple Things on piano
By Amy Grant
- E major
- 4/4
- 91 BPM
- I–vi–IV–Vsus loop
- 2003
- Medium
Learn Simple Things in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – C#m – A – Bsus4
Simple Things sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; C#m is C#, E and G#; A is A, C# and E; Bsus4 is B, E and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIC#mviAIVBsus4Vsus4- EE · G# · B
- C#mC# · E · G#
- AA · C# · E
- Bsus4B · E · F#
- 2
Left hand: Hurrying footsteps
Calm steps in the first half, then twice as fast to the end. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4 · 4& (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 642 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 91 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: D – A – E
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DAE- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about Simple Things
What chords are in Simple Things?
The loop is E – C#m – A – Bsus4 (I – vi – IV – Vsus) in E major, and the song ends on D – A – E.
What key is Simple Things in?
E major, at about 91 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Simple Things?
Hurrying footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4 · 4&, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Simple Things 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.