How to Play "Take It Easy" on Piano (Eagles Tutorial)
"Take It Easy" by the Eagles is in G major and is built mostly from G, C and D (I, IV and V) in the verse and Am, Em, C and G in the chorus, with a D7sus4 in the intro and an F/G colour chord in the closing bridge.
Key points
- The song is in G major; the intro is G, G, C, D7sus4 (D G A C), which gives the banjo-like sound.
- Strike chords on beat 1 and the 'and' of 2, and fill the end of each bar with descending arpeggios.
- The verse uses G, C and D (I, IV, V) plus G/B; the chorus uses Am, Em, C and G.
- Colour chords from the backing vocals: D over E in the chorus and F over G in the closing bridge.
- Learn the song section by section before putting it together.
This lesson by Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music shows you how to play the Eagles classic Take It Easy on piano. It suits beginners who know basic major and minor chords, and it also gives more confident players a rhythm pattern, arpeggio fills and colour chords to make the song sound fuller.
The song structure
The song is in G major and follows a verse and chorus structure with a few changes. The guitar solo runs over a full cycle of the verse and chorus chords. Unusually, the bridge comes at the end of the song rather than the middle, but the singers keep repeating the words take it easy, so the hook stays with the listener even though the chords and melody change.
The intro
The intro chords are G, G, C and D7sus4. The D7sus4 is spelled D G A C. It is not a plain D major because the G replaces the F#, giving a suspended fourth. Keeping a common note between the chords creates the banjo-influenced sound of the song.
Play the four chords twice, then the guitar lick. The lick is a bluesy country phrase that slides down from B through Bb to A and G. You can play it on piano. It ends just as the singer starts the verse.
A rhythm that does not slam the chords
Try not to hit the chords heavily on every beat. Instead, count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. Strike each chord on beat 1 and on the and of beat 2. Use this pattern through most of the song. At the end of each bar, fill the spare beats with a short arpeggio of the chord, played from the top note going down.
The verse
The verse has two parts and uses chords I, IV and V of G major (G, C and D) in different orders. It also uses G/B, a G chord with B in the bass. Each chord lasts four counts. Where two chords share a bar, each gets two counts.
If you are new to the piano, play each chord on 1, 2, 3, 4 with the root note in the left hand. Move to the rhythm pattern above when you are ready.
Last verse change: in the final verse, after the guitar solo, play an E minor in place of one of the C chords.
The chorus
The chorus is built on A minor, E minor, C and G, with each chord held for four counts. The second chord is nearly always E minor. Only in chorus two does it change to D. The chorus then moves through A minor, C and E minor, stays on E minor, then goes C, G, C, G and ends A minor, C, G, G. The guitar lick returns afterwards.
On one of the E minor spots you can add a colour taken from the backing vocals. Play a D major chord in the right hand (D F# A) over an E in the bass, which gives D/E. You can also simply stay on E minor.
Guitar solo and closing bridge
The solo uses the verse chords, then the chorus chords. The bridge at the end moves between C and G, two bars each, as the voices repeat the hook.
On the second G, try an F major chord in the right hand over a G bass (F/G). It gives an open, big, almost choir-like sound that matches the vocal harmonies. The song closes with the long held word easy, the guitar lick, and a final E minor.
How to practise
- Learn each section's chords on their own: intro, verse, chorus, bridge.
- Play them in simple four-beat time first.
- Add the 1 and the and of 2 rhythm, then the descending arpeggio fills.
- Add the colour chords D/E and F/G and the guitar lick.
- Slowly join the sections together.
Questions about this lesson
What key is Take It Easy in?
Take It Easy is in G major. The verse uses the I, IV and V chords G, C and D, and the chorus adds A minor and E minor.
How do you play D7sus4 on piano?
D7sus4 is spelled D G A C. The G replaces the F# of a D chord, which creates the suspended, banjo-like sound of the intro.
What rhythm should I use for the chords?
Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, and strike each chord on beat 1 and on the 'and' of beat 2. Beginners can simply play the chord on every beat with the root in the left hand.
What is the F/G chord in the bridge?
It is an F major chord in the right hand played over a G in the bass, used on the second G of the closing bridge. It gives an open, big sound that matches the choir-like backing vocals.
Practise it
- Pop LessonsPractice companions for Jason Zac’s pop piano lessons: octave fillers, chord changes and inversions in every key.
- Bass AlchemyKeep the upper notes in place while changing the bass.
- Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
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