What It Takes

by Aerosmith

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Lyrics

(G)There goes my old girl friend, there’s an oth er dia mond ring.

And, uh, (Em)all those late night prom (D)is es (C)I guess they don’t mean a thing.

So (G)ba by, what’s the sto ry?

Did you find an oth er man?

Is it (Em)eas y to sleep in the bed that we made?

When you (C)don’t look back, I guess the feel ings start to fade a way.

I (G)used to feel your fire, but now it’s (Em)cold in side.

And you’re (C)back on the street like you did n’t miss a beat, yeah.

Tell me what it takes to let you (F)go.

Tell me how the pain’s sup posed to (F)go.

Tell me how it (A)is that you can (Dm)sleep in the (Dm)night with out (B)think ing you lost ev ’ry thing that was good in your life to the toss of the dice?

Tell me what it (Db)takes to let you go.

Yeah.

(G)Girl, be fore I met you I was F I N E, fine.

But your (Em)love made me a pris (D)on er, (C)yeah, my heart’s been do ing time.

You (G)spent me up like mon ey, then you hung me out to dry.

It was (Em)eas y to keep all your lies in dis guise, ’cause you (C)had me in deep with the dev il in your eyes.

Tell me what it takes to let you (F)go.

Tell me how the pain’s sup posed to (F)go.

Tell me how it (A)is that you can (Dm)sleep in the (Dm)night with out (Bdim7)think ing you lost ev ’ry thing that was good in your life to the toss of the dice?

Tell me what it (Db)takes to let you go.

Gui tar!

Tell me that you’re hap py that you’re on your (G)own.

Yeah yeah.

(Bb)Yeah, tell me that it’s bet ter when you’re all a (F)lone.

Tell me that your bod y does n’t (Eb)miss my (Db)touch.

Tell me that my lov in’ did n’t mean that (Ab)much.

Tell me you ain’t dy in’ when you’re cry in’ for (C)me.

Tell me what it takes to let you (F)go.

Tell me how the pain’s sup posed to (F)go.

Uh, tell me how it (A)is that you can (Dm)sleep in the (Dm)night with out (B)think in’ you lost ev ’ry thing that was good in your life to the toss of the dice?

Tell me who’s to (Db)blame for think in’ twice,

no no no no, ’cause I don’t wan na (Db)burn in par a dise.

Oo.

Let go.

Let go.

Let go.

(F)I don’t wan na burn in par a dise.

Let it (Dm)go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it (Bb)go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it (F)go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it (Dm)go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it (Bb)go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it (F)go, let it go, let it go, let it go, let it

What It Takes by Aerosmith — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “What It Takes by Aerosmith in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 76 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "What It Takes" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "What It Takes"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.