Piano chords · Blues & boogie
This Is What It Takes: piano accompaniment sheet music
Artist unknown
- C major
- 4/4
- 81 BPM
- I–iii–vi–IV loop
- Easy
This Is What It Takes written out as piano music: the I – iii – vi – IV loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays seesaw bass (root–fifth 1-5-1-5), and the right hand sings the tune.
This Is What It Takes chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | I | C E G |
| 2 | Em | iii | E G B |
| 3 | Am | vi | A C E |
| 4 | F | IV | F A C |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: seesaw bass (root–fifth 1-5-1-5) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the C – Em – Am – F chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about This Is What It Takes
Does the sheet music for This Is What It Takes have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
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.