Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Takes My Breath Away on piano
Written by Claire Hamill
- C major
- 4/4
- 60 BPM
- 1975
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Takes My Breath Away in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Dm – C – Fsus4
How it goes
Takes My Breath Away sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; Fsus4 is F, Bb and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIDmiiCIFsus4IVsus4- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- Fsus4F · Bb · C
- 2
Left hand: Gentle rocking
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, fifth: the gentle rocking under countless pop ballads. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 696 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 60 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: C – Dm – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDmC
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Questions about Takes My Breath Away
What chords are in Takes My Breath Away?
The loop is C – Dm – C – Fsus4 (I – ii – I – IVsus) in C major, and the song ends on C – Dm – C.
What key is Takes My Breath Away in?
C major, at about 60 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Takes My Breath Away?
Gentle rocking: broken chord 1-5-8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Takes My Breath Away 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.