How to Play "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by Roberta Flack on Piano

Roberta Flack · Shared by David · 110 bars

  • G major
  • 4/4
  • 100 BPM
  • Medium
  • Melody + piano

Your song map

0 / 21 parts learned

  1. Chorus 1
  2. Verse 1
  3. Chorus 2
  4. Verse 2
  5. Instrumental 1
  6. Verse 3
  7. Instrumental 3
  8. Verse 4
  9. Whole song
  • Learned
  • Selected
  • Now
  • To learn

What this song uses

Short warm-ups in the song's own key and chords. About a minute each, and you can skip them.

  1. The key

    G major

    Five-finger position on G, then the G major scale with both hands.

    About this scale
  2. The chord loop

    Bm, Bm7, Em, Em7, C, Em, D · iii, iii7, vi, vi7, IV, vi, V

    The loop the song goes round most. Play each chord as a block, one bar each.

    Bm: B, D, F#
    Bm7: B, D, F#
    Em: E, G, B
    Em7: E, G, B
    C: C, E, G
    D: D, F#, A
  3. The left hand

    Dreamy wave

    Open arpeggio 1-5-9-10 · Intermediate

    Rolls up through a soft extra note: a dreamy, open, modern sound.

Chorus 1, part 1 · bars 1 to 7

Up next
  1. Right hand
  2. Left hand
  3. Both hands

What you need to know

Read from the song's own notes: the key, the beat, the chords, and what each hand plays.

Key and scale

G major

1 sharp: F#

GABCDEF#

The G major scale

Time signature

4/4

4 beats in every bar, at 100 BPM

The chords you play

The song uses 6 chords, as the sheet music writes them.

Left hand

Bass notes

The piano's lower staff, as written: mostly one note at a time, about one a beat.

Range C2 to D3Step 2 on its ownStep 3 with the right hand

Right hand

The melody

The tune the singer sings, one note at a time, about one a beat.

Range G3 to A4Part by part

How to practice "Killing Me Softly With His Song"

Learn "Killing Me Softly With His Song" one part at a time, with the song's real notes. The practice splits it into 21 parts of a few bars. Each part has three steps: the right hand, the left hand (the right hand plays softly under it), then both hands. Every step plays at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down whenever you need. Press "I can play it" when you can play a step, and the next one opens.

Every step is free to play
  1. Start hereThe melody

    Step 1: Right hand

    Listen, then play the melody with your right hand, with finger numbers.

    Open this step
  2. Lower staff

    Step 2: Left hand

    Your left hand learns the piano's lower staff, note for note, while the right hand plays softly so you hear where you are.

    Open this step
  3. Both staves

    Step 3: Both hands

    Both hands together, as written. When you can play it, press "I can play it" and the part is learned.

    Open this step
  4. Then play the whole song

    When you can play every part, play the full sheet music with its backing track in the player.

    Play the full song

Frequently asked questions

How do I learn "Killing Me Softly With His Song" on the piano?

Learn "Killing Me Softly With His Song" one part at a time, with the song's real notes. The practice splits it into 21 parts of a few bars. Each part has three steps: the right hand, the left hand (the right hand plays softly under it), then both hands. Every step plays at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down whenever you need. Press "I can play it" when you can play a step, and the next one opens.

What key is "Killing Me Softly With His Song" in?

"Killing Me Softly With His Song" is in G major, which has 1 sharp: F#. The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E and F#.

The G major scale

What are the chords in "Killing Me Softly With His Song"?

The sheet music uses 6 chords: Em, D, E, A, C and G.

What does the left hand play in "Killing Me Softly With His Song"?

The piano's lower staff: mostly one note at a time, about one a beat, from C2 to D3. You learn it on its own first, with the right hand playing softly underneath, then with both hands.

What tempo is "Killing Me Softly With His Song"?

"Killing Me Softly With His Song" plays at 100 BPM in 4/4. Every step of the practice plays at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down as much as you need.

Is "Killing Me Softly With His Song" hard to play on piano?

It is rated Medium: a good next step once you can play a few easy songs. The melody goes from G3 up to A4. The practice splits it into parts of a few bars, one hand at a time, so you can learn it at your own pace.

How long should I practice each day?

A few minutes is enough. Choose 5, 10 or 15 minutes: the timer ends the session for you, and the next session picks up where you stopped.

Do I need to read sheet music?

No. The practice plays each part for you, one hand at a time, and shows its notes on the sheet and on a keyboard as they play, with finger numbers. Slow it down as much as you need.

Is it free?

Yes. Practicing is free. Sign in to keep your progress and your streak, and to get a daily reminder.

Where can I get the sheet music for "Killing Me Softly With His Song"?

Play the full sheet music free in the interactive player, or download a printable PDF.

Sheet music in the playerDownload the PDF