How to play The Long Way Home on piano

Learn The Long Way Home in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Em – A – Em – A
How it goes
The Long Way Home sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiAIVEmiAIV
- EmE · G · B
- AA · C# · E
34 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Three-step climb
How it goes
Root, fifth, octave, then let it ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Three-step climbBroken chord · BalladLeft 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 88 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 – Em
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in The Long Way Home?

The loop is Em – A – Em – A (i – IV – i – IV) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.

What key is The Long Way Home in?

E minor, at about 88 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Long Way Home?

Three-step climb: broken chord 1-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Long Way Home 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.