Piano chords · Bossa beach
When You Say Nothing At All: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by Don Schlitz & Paul Overstreet
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–V–IV–V loop
- 1988
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
When You Say Nothing At All written out as piano music: the I – V – IV – V loop in Eb major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays bossa sway (root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&)), and the right hand sings the tune.
When You Say Nothing At All chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in Eb 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 | Eb | I | Eb G Bb |
| 2 | Bb | V | Bb D F |
| 3 | Ab | IV | Ab C Eb |
| 4 | Bb | V | Bb D F |
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: bossa sway (root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&)) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the Eb – Bb – Ab – Bb 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 When You Say Nothing At All
Does the sheet music for When You Say Nothing At All 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 When You Say Nothing At All?
The loop is Eb – Bb – Ab – Bb (I – V – IV – V) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is When You Say Nothing At All in?
Eb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in When You Say Nothing At All?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is When You Say Nothing At All 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.