How to play 'Someone You Loved' on piano

First, let's take a look at the full intro in Artie to give you an idea of how it plays.

The right-hand pattern can be split into 4 parts (bars), with 2 notes played in each with a gentle back-and-forth motion

• high → low → high → low (four repetitions)

Bar 1: Opening

• Notes: F – G♯ (A♭)

• Fingering: 5 (pinky) – 1 (thumb)

• Sequence: 5–1–5–1–5–1–5–1

Wide interval, small movement — keep it steady and relaxed.

Bar 2

• Notes: C – D♯

• Fingering: 4 (ring) – 1 (thumb)

• Sequence: 4–1–4–1–4–1–4–1

Your 4th finger drops to C and your thumb moves down to D♯ (E♭). Same gentle back-and-forth motion.

Bar 3

• Notes: C♯ (D♭) – F

• Fingering: 5 (pinky) – 1 (thumb)

• Sequence: 5–1–5–1–5–1–5–1

Place your pinky a short distance to the next black note - C♯ (D♭) and your thumb up to the F.

Bar 4: Final Phrase

Notes: A♯ (B♭) – C♯ (D♭)

Fingering: 4 (ring) – 1 (thumb)

Sequence: 4–1–4–1–4–1

Start with A♯ (B♭) on your 4th finger and C♯ (D♭) on your thumb. Repeat this high–low motion three times.

On the fourth repeat:

The top note drops to G♯ (A♭) instead of A♯ (B♭). This shift leads smoothly back into Pattern 1.

After this, go straight back to Bar 1 and keep the cycle going.

That’s the full right-hand loop. Practice it a few times until it clicks. When you want to tighten the rhythm, try playing along with a metronome.

The left hand plays one bass note per pattern, matching the right-hand changes. You play the note once at the start of each bar and let it ring while the right hand repeats its high–low motion.

Bass notes:

• C♯ (D♭) → G♯ (A♭) → A♯ (B♭) → F♯ (G♭)

These four notes cycle underneath the right-hand patterns. After the F♯ (G♭), return to C♯ (D♭) and start again.

🎹 Tip:

Keep the left hand light. The emotion of the intro comes from the right-hand pulse, so let the bass sit gently underneath.

Add more power on the second loop

The second time you play the full cycle, try doubling each bass note as an octave — pinky on the lower note, thumb on the higher.

It immediately makes the intro sound fuller and closer to a studio arrangement.

💡 ARTMASTER TIP: In Artie, you can practise the bass notes on their own first. When the movement feels natural, switch to back to playing both.

Once the loop feels comfortable, here are a few simple ways to make Someone You Loved sound smoother and more expressive.

Use gentle pedalling

Use a little sustain pedal to connect the bars smoothly. Lift the pedal only when the bass note changes. This keeps everything clean while still giving you that soft, blended sound the intro is known for.

Shape the dynamics

Start softly on the first loop, then let the second loop grow slightly in volume. It mirrors the emotional lift in the song and makes the simple pattern feel more musical.

Let the final notes breathe

On the last high–low pair of each bar, ease off slightly before moving to the next pattern. A tiny bit of space helps the progression settle naturally.

Lighten Pattern 3

Because Pattern 3 shifts to a narrower interval, playing it just a touch softer creates a gentle contrast before Pattern 4 lifts back up.

Try moving the right hand up an octave

When you want a more delicate sound — or if you’re singing over it — shifting the right-hand loop up an octave adds brightness without changing the pattern.

💡 ARTMASTER TIP: Play the intro in Artie Free Play and let it score your timing and consistency. Seeing the small rhythm bumps makes them much easier to fix.

🎹 Artie — the first AI piano teacher of its kind.
No sheet music, no complicated theory — just the music.

✅ Real-time feedback as you play
✅ Practice tools like loop, tempo control & wait mode

👉 Available now on the App Store (iOS):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/artie-learn-piano-with-ai/id6746756746

Want to keep learning? Check out some more of our guides:

• How to play 'Clocks' by Coldplay

• Chord progressions explained: a beginner’s guide for piano and guitar

• 40 iconic piano intros

• 100 easy songs you can play with just 4 chords

• 10 advanced piano tips to transform your playing