Piano chords · Lullaby boat
How to play When You Really Love Someone on piano
Artist unknown
- E minor
- 6/8
- 68 BPM
- i–iv–v–i loop
- Easy
Learn When You Really Love Someone in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – Am – Bm – Em
When You Really Love Someone sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiAmivBmvEmi- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Lilting climb
Three notes climbing in a long-short swing, then a pause to ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (6/8) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 120 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Cradle chords
A chord, a rock to beat two, a soft pickup back: like a cradle. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 68 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 – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about When You Really Love Someone
What chords are in When You Really Love Someone?
The loop is Em – Am – Bm – Em (i – iv – v – i) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is When You Really Love Someone in?
E minor, at about 68 beats a minute in 6/8.
What does the left hand play in When You Really Love Someone?
Lilting climb: broken chord 1-5-8 (6/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is When You Really Love Someone 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.