How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

by James Ingram
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Lyrics

How do you keep the mu sic (F7sus4)play (F7)ing?

How do you make it (Gm7)last?

How do you keep the song from (F7sus4)fad (F7)ing too (Bbmaj7)fast?

How do you lose your self to (C7sus4)some (C7)one

and nev er lose your (Dm7)way?

How do you not run out of (A7sus4)new (A7)things to (Dm)say?

And since we know we’re al ways (F7sus4)chang (F7)ing,

how can it be the (Gm7)same?

And tell me (Dm7)how, year af ter (Cm7)year, you’re sure your heart will fall a (Cm7)part

each time you (F7)hear his (Bb)name.

I (Gm)know

the (C7sus4)way I feel for (C7)you, it’s now or (Fmaj7)nev er.

The (Bbmaj7)more I love, the more that I’m a (Em7)fraid

that (A7sus4)in your eyes I (A7)may not see for (Dm)ev er

for (Dm7)ev (G7b9)er.

If we can be the best of (F7sus4)lov (F7)ers,

yet be the best of (Gm7)friends,

if we can (Dm7)try with ev ’ry (Dm7)day to make it (G7b9)bet ter as it (Cm9)grows,

with a ny luck, then I sup (F7sus4)pose

the mu sic (F7)nev er (Eb)ends.

I (Gm)know

the (C7sus4)way I feel for (C7)you, it’s now or (Fmaj7)nev er.

The (Bbmaj7)more I love, the more that I’m a (Em7)fraid

that (A7sus4)in your eyes I (A7)may not see for (Dm)ev er

for (Dm7)ev (G7b9)er.

If we can be the best of (F7sus4)lov (F7)ers,

yet be the best of (Gm7)friends,

if we can (Dm7)try with ev ’ry (Dm7)day to make it (G7b9)bet ter as it (Cm9)grows,

with a ny luck, then I sup (F7sus4)pose

the mu sic (F7)nev er (Eb)ends.

I (Eb)ends.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing? — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

14 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" by James Ingram: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of Eb, 120 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Eb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?”

Can I sing "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" karaoke-style with the lyrics on screen?
Yes — Karaoke mode puts the lyrics of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" on screen a line at a time and lights up each word in time, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word and the chord shown just above. The piano backing plays underneath in Eb, and you can transpose it to fit your voice.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" by James Ingram in?
The backing track is in Eb at 120 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?"?
"How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" was originally performed by James Ingram. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
Is there a karaoke version of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" by James Ingram. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in Eb, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.

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