Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Song for a Friend on piano
By Jason Mraz
- B minor
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Song for a Friend in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bm – A – G – Em
How it goes
Song for a Friend sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmiAVIIGVIEmiv- BmB · D · F#
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Hiccup heartbeat
How it goes
A tiny hiccup just before beat 3, then a push on the “and”. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 121 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – A – Bm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm
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Questions about Song for a Friend
What chords are in Song for a Friend?
The loop is Bm – A – G – Em (i – bVII – bVI – iv) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.
What key is Song for a Friend in?
B minor, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Song for a Friend?
Hiccup heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Song for a Friend 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.