Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Reason on piano
Written by Daniel Estrin & Douglas Robb
- C major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- I–iv–I–iv loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Reason in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Fm – C – Fm
How it goes
The Reason sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFmivCIFmiv- CC · E · G
- FmF · Ab · C
- 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: 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.
- 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 – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
Play next
Questions about The Reason
What chords are in The Reason?
The loop is C – Fm – C – Fm (I – iv – I – iv) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is The Reason in?
C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Reason?
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 The Reason 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.