Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play This Is What It Takes on piano
Artist unknown
- C major
- 4/4
- 81 BPM
- I–iii–vi–IV loop
- Easy
Learn This Is What It Takes in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Em – Am – F
This Is What It Takes sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIEmiiiAmviFIV- CC · E · G
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 81 BPM
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
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about This Is What It Takes
What chords are in This Is What It Takes?
The loop is C – Em – Am – F (I – iii – vi – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is This Is What It Takes in?
C major, at about 81 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in This Is What It Takes?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is This Is 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.