Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play You Can Rely On Me on piano
Written by Jason Mraz, Becky Gebhardt & others
- G major
- 2/2
- 150 BPM
- vi–IV–I–vi loop
- 2014
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn You Can Rely On Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – C – G – Em
How it goes
You Can Rely On Me sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmviCIVGIEmvi- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Hopscotch steps
How it goes
Step, step, skip a beat, step: like hopping over a square. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 668 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 150 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: G – Am – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAmG- AmA · C · E
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Questions about You Can Rely On Me
What chords are in You Can Rely On Me?
The loop is Em – C – G – Em (vi – IV – I – vi) in G major, and the song ends on G – Am – G.
What key is You Can Rely On Me in?
G major, at about 150 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in You Can Rely On Me?
Hopscotch steps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is You Can Rely On Me 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.