Other arrangements of This Is What It Takes
Pick a learning view.
I (C)watch your troub led eyes I’m as you rest,
and I (Gsus)fall in love with ev ’ry breath.
a crime.
And you (C)Won der if those eyes are real ly shut,
and am (F)I the one you’re (Gsus)dream ing of.
’Cause un der neath
the dark ness
there’s a (C)light that’s try ing so hard to be seen.
And I know this,
’cause I’ve no ticed
a (C)lit tle bit (Em7)shin ing through the seams.
And if (C)this is (Dm7)what it takes,
then (G)let me be the (C)one to (Dm7)bear the (Am)pain.
Oh, if (C)this is (Dm7)what it takes,
I’ll break (C)down these (Dm7)walls that are (C)in our way,
if (G)this is what it takes.
You (C)keep on tell ing me I’m wast ing time,
but to (Gsus)call it wast ing time, oh, breath.
a crime.
And you (C)think it’s cra zy, what I’m tryin’ to do.
and Well (F)ba by, I’m a (Gsus)fool for you.
’Cause un der neath
the dark ness
there’s a (C)light that’s try ing so hard to be seen.
And I know this,
’cause I’ve no ticed
a (C)lit tle bit (Em7)shin ing through the seams.
And if (C)this is (Dm7)what it takes,
then (G)let me be the (C)one to (Dm7)bear the (Am)pain.
Oh, if (C)this is (Dm7)what it takes,
I’ll break (C)down these (Dm7)walls that are (C)in our way,
if (G)this is what it takes.
You
’Cause if you (F)don’t un der stand yet,
then I’ll nev (Gsus)er let you for get
that (Am)you don’t have to do this on your (C)own.
I’ll be your (F6/9)shoul der to lean on,
I’ll be your (Gsus)right when you feel wrong.
So (Am)come on, take my hand, we’re mov in’ on.
And if this is (Dm7)what it takes,
then (G)let me be the (C)one to (Dm7)bear the (Am)pain.
Ooh, and if (C)this is (Dm7)what it takes,
I’ll break (C)down these (Dm7)walls,
these (C)walls that are in our way,
if (G)this is what it takes.
This Is What It Takes — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
2 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "This Is What It Takes" by Shawn Mendes: 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 C, 81 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “This Is What It Takes”
- What key is "This Is What It Takes" by Shawn Mendes played in?
- This Is What It Takes is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "This Is What It Takes"?
- The arrangement plays at 81 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "This Is What It Takes" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "This Is What It Takes"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "This Is What It Takes"?
- "This Is What It Takes" was originally performed by Shawn Mendes. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "This Is What It Takes"?
- This arrangement uses 9 chords: Am, Am7, C, Dm7, Em7, F, F6, G, +1 more.
- What other songs by Shawn Mendes can I play here?
- Try "I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME", "LOST IN JAPAN", "FALLIN' ALL IN YOU". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "This Is What It Takes" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "This Is What It Takes" by Shawn Mendes. 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 "This Is What It Takes" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in C, 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 "This Is What It Takes" 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.


