Hold On Loosely

by 38 Special
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Lyrics

You see it all (B)a round you:

good your lov in’ gone bad.

And you be lieve (B)it’s too late when you

re al ize what you (A)had.

And my mind goes back to a girl that I left some years a go, who told me:

Just hold on (E)loose ly,

but don’t let (A)go.

If you cling too (E)tight ly,

you’re gon na lose con (A)trol.

Your ba by needs (B)some one to be lieve in

and a whole lot of (A)space to breathe in.

You So damn all (B)a eas y

when your feel ings are such,

to o ver pro (B)it’s tect late her, you

re to love her too (A)much.

And my mind goes back to a girl that I left some years a go, who told me:

Just hold on (E)loose ly,

but don’t let (A)go.

If you cling too (E)tight ly,

you’re gon na lose con (A)trol.

Your ba by needs (B)some one to be lieve in

and a whole lot of (A)space to breathe in.

to breathe in.

Don’t let her slip a (D)way.

Sen ti men tal fool.

Don’t let your heart get in the way.

Hold On Loosely — Classic Piano Sheet Music

1 person has learned this song

Read "Hold On Loosely" by 38 Special in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of E. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 100 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Hold On Loosely

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Hold On Loosely"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature E. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Hold On Loosely" by 38 Special played in?
Hold On Loosely is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Hold On Loosely"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Hold On Loosely" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Hold On Loosely"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Hold On Loosely"?
"Hold On Loosely" was originally performed by 38 Special. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Hold On Loosely"?
This arrangement uses 7 chords: A, B, C, D, E, F#m, G.
What other songs by 38 Special can I play here?
Try "CAUGHT UP IN YOU". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Hold On Loosely" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature E, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 100 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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