Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play The Winner Takes It All on piano
By Abba
- F# major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- 1980
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Winner Takes It All in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C# – E#m – E#m7 – C#7 – G#m – D#m – C#7 – D#m7
How it goes
The Winner Takes It All sits in F# major: F# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: C# is C#, E# and G#; E#m is E#, G# and B#; E#m7 is E#, G#, B# and D#; C#7 is C#, E#, G# and B; G#m is G#, B and D#; D#m is D#, F# and A#; D#m7 is D#, F#, A# and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C#VE#mviiE#m7vii7C#7V7G#miiD#mviC#7V7D#m7vi7- C#C# · E# · G#
- E#mE# · G# · B#
- E#m7E# · G# · B# · D#
- C#7C# · E# · G# · B
- G#mG# · B · D#
- D#mD# · F# · A#
- D#m7D# · F# · A# · C#
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 92 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: G#m – C# – F#
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
G#mC#F#- F#F# · A# · C#
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Questions about The Winner Takes It All
What chords are in The Winner Takes It All?
The loop is C# – E#m – E#m7 – C#7 – G#m – D#m – C#7 – D#m7 (V – vii – vii7 – V7 – ii – vi – V7 – vi7) in F# major, and the song ends on G#m – C# – F#.
What key is The Winner Takes It All in?
F# major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Winner Takes It All?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Winner Takes It All easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of The Winner Takes It All?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.