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? — Piano Accompaniment Track

14 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" by James Ingram. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. 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?”

How do the bar-notation visuals help sing "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" with this backing?
Each chord change drops as a colored bar across the staff, scrolling in real time so you can see exactly when the harmony shifts. Helpful for hitting entrances and judging when to breathe — especially on phrases that don't begin on beat 1 of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?".
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.
How do I use "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" as a backing track?
Just press play — the piano accompaniment runs from start to end, no vocals. Sing, hum, or play your own instrument over it. Use the mic icon to add a vocal melody as a pitch reference, and the speed control if you want a slower practice tempo.
Can I change the key of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" to fit my voice?
Yes — the original is in Eb, but the player has a live transpose control so you can shift up or down semitones until the melody sits in your vocal range. The piano accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.

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