Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play That's What It Takes on piano
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1987
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn That's What It Takes in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – Asus4 – A – Am
How it goes
That's What It Takes sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Asus4 is A, D and E; A is A, C# and E; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIAsus4IIsus4AIIAmii- GG · B · D
- Asus4A · D · E
- AA · C# · E
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Dancing heartbeat
How it goes
Notes dance around the beats, pushing ahead on the “ands”. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 245 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 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about That's What It Takes
What chords are in That's What It Takes?
The loop is G – Asus4 – A – Am (I – IIsus – II – ii) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is That's What It Takes in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in That's What It Takes?
Dancing heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is That's What It Takes 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.