Through The Years Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Through The Years in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – Em – Am – D7
Through The Years sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIEmviAmiiD7V7
- GG · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- D7D · F# · A · C
160 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Pop heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Soft chordsBlock chords · BalladRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 124 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: C – D – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in Through The Years?

The loop is G – Em – Am – D7 (I – vi – ii – V7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Through The Years in?

G major, at about 124 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Through The Years?

Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Through The Years 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.