The Best Years Of My Life Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Best Years Of My Life in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: F – C – Dm – Gm
How it goes
The Best Years Of My Life sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FICVDmviGmii
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- GmG · Bb · D
17 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Leapfrog pulse
How it goes
One long note, then a quick hop that leaps right into beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2a · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 153 songs of the library.
Leapfrog pulseRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 80 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: F – Gm – F
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGmF

What chords are in The Best Years Of My Life?

The loop is F – C – Dm – Gm (I – V – vi – ii) in F major, and the song ends on F – Gm – F.

What key is The Best Years Of My Life in?

F major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Best Years Of My Life?

Leapfrog pulse: root bass · 1 · 2a · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Best Years Of My Life 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.