Want to learn how to play “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran on piano? Good choice! “Photograph” is a beautiful, folky ballad that sounds great when translated to the piano! This arrangement is on the easy/intermediate level, so no matter how new you are to piano, you’ll be playing “Photograph” sooner than you think. Here are two things that make this song so simple, without taking away from its beauty:
1. Right hand melodic phrases repeats
This beautiful one-measure phrase repeats throughout the duration of the intro, while the left hand plays different roots. This of course makes it easy to learn how to play “Photograph.”
2. Four chords in one left-hand position
The left hand part for this section is very simple to play, but still covers a lot of ground. Single notes cover the roots of the chords, but it doesn’t sound thin or empty when you play with hands together because the repeating right hand melody covers the chord tones that the left hand leaves out. For example, the first chord of this section is a G major chord (G, B, D). The left hand only plays the G, but if we look at what the right hand is doing on top of that single left hand note, we see (among other melodic notes) a G, a B, and a D. Together, the chord is complete! The same is true for each of the other chords to come.. the right hand melody fills in with chord tones where the left hand is lacking.
Now it’s your turn to play “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran on piano
If you love using your favorite songs to learn the piano, check out ‘Photograph’ by Ed Sheeran at the Playground Sessions YouTube channel.
If you like what you see you can download our app to learn the rest of this song with our interactive sheet music.
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