Piano chords · Classical salon
How to play Something’s Got A Hold On Me on piano
Written by Etta James, Leroy Kirkland & others
- G major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- I–V7–I–IV loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Something’s Got A Hold On Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D7 – G – C
How it goes
Something’s Got A Hold On Me sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, F#, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GID7V7GICIV- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Little steps
How it goes
Up the chord and back, one step at a time. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5-3 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 304 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
How it goes
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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 – C7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GC7G- C7C · E · G · Bb
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Questions about Something’s Got A Hold On Me
What chords are in Something’s Got A Hold On Me?
The loop is G – D7 – G – C (I – V7 – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on G – C7 – G.
What key is Something’s Got A Hold On Me in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Something’s Got A Hold On Me?
Little steps: broken chord 1-3-5-3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Something’s Got A Hold On 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.