Piano chords · Rock drive

How to play When I Think Of You on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn When I Think Of You in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A – E7 – A – E7
How it goes
When I Think Of You sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; E7 is E, G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIE7V7AIE7V7
- AA · C# · E
- E7E · G# · B · D
222 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Heartbeat octavesRocking octaves · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Skipping-stone chords
How it goes
One chord, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Skipping-stone chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 117 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: A – E7 – A
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AE7A

What chords are in When I Think Of You?

The loop is A – E7 – A – E7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in A major, and the song ends on A – E7 – A.

What key is When I Think Of You in?

A major, at about 117 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in When I Think Of You?

Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is When I Think Of You 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.