How To Play 'The Scientist' (Piano Song Tutorial)

"The Scientist" is a song that is awesome to learn on the piano for a couple of reasons.

It sounds really cool (it's a beautiful song), and it's SUPER EASY to learn!

There are really only four chords in the whole song (surprise surprise). And the main theme really only has three!

Those are:
Dm7 (in 3rd inversion - which just means that the 7th is at the bottom!)
Bb (in 1st inversion)
F (in 2nd inversion - which is basically the same chord as the Dm7 - just without the D!)

And then we have an Fsus2.

To play this we just need to substitute the A on the top of the chord for a G. So the notes are C-F-G.

And that's pretty much it! In this lesson, we are going to be playing quarter notes for the right AND left hand.

BUT - in the Coldplay recording the left-hand plays eighth notes. So you could just play the root note OR and octave in the left hand.

Download the FREE lead sheet for this song here:

Here are the timecodes for the lesson:

- The chords we'll use - 0:26

- It was a squeaky chair! (I'm sorry) - 0:29

- The fancy moment between the Bb and F chords - 1:52

- How to play the melody - 2:35

- "Nobody Said It Was Easy" - 3:27

If you're newer to chording this is a great way to learn and practice some inversions and sus chords while sounding really good!

To explore more chords, check out our FREE series on chords:

And we have another free series for absolute beginners. Getting Started On The Piano:

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ABOUT LISA:
Lisa Witt has been teaching piano for +20 years and in that time has helped hundreds of thousands of students learn to play the songs they love. Lisa received classical piano training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, but she has since embraced popular music and playing by ear in order to accompany herself and others. She is a songwriter and recording artist. Lisa’s contagious enthusiasm will have you excited to practice and return to the keys for your next lesson. Her teaching style focuses on you, making lessons encouraging and fun.

[PianoteOfficial]

Ready to level up your playing? Get personal coaching tips and structured lessons: enjoy your free 7-day trial to Pianote!

[TonkaJay]

I think YouTube suggested one video and now they've suggested a few more and it's just so pleasent. When I was like 9 I took piano lessons and she was just an old teacher that didn't make it fun and it was so eh. I didn't last very long. I remember keys and how to read music. I never went back. I enjoy listening to people play and watching someone (such as yourself) teach, but I just never got back into it.


Being a GOOD teacher is so underrated and under-appreciated. Just because you know how to do something doesn't mean you know how to teach someone else. That's a whole different dynamic.


I appreciate how you teach and you enjoy it and I enjoy watching for that reason.

[netviewer]

Cannot fault this tutorial at all. This is a classic beginner song that will set the feel for those starting out learning piano ..an easy but rewarding song to progress from .. I hope that makes sense ..

[abdulelahalghuwaidi]

You are just AMAZING! I just started learning piano and I was dreaming playing this song since I was a child. Now I can! Please keep doing these incredible tutorials.

[AKAtAGG]

I'm going to look after a house with a baby grand piano next week. my wife and daughter said i had to learn this song on piano, even tho i haven't played piano for about 18 years. love you for this tutorial, best one i found so far. love it.

[gocsan]

I had a bit of interest in piano (along with a guitar) when I was about 10 and I was pretty good at it I remember, but never continued on unfortunately. Fast forward 28 years later (although I have been practising a guitar for the last few years), my wife has pushed my daughter into piano lessons and decided that we'll be buying a piano soon for her. As I was more excited than anyone else in the family I went straight on YouTube and want to learn how to play the Scientist as my first piano music. There's a saying that it's never too late to learn anything. This is the second YouTube video that I have searched and your tutorial is amazing! Have a great day.

[vihamra]

I want to hear that great voice again!!! <3

[SacWebDeveloper]

Novice piano player here. I play it pretty much exactly like this and I only used guitar tabs and playing by ear to learn it. Also watched a live concert video. Glad to hear that my new learning strategy was on the money! 🎉😊

[diogodavid]

After watching the "learn piano in 7 days" video I thought to myself about a song I liked that had a piano and that sounded easy to play and I remembered The Scientist, so I went on Google to search for this song on piano and I see you have covered this song. I love this channel now.

[toilagialoc]

Your videos make us love the piano more.
It's too easy to practice.
Love the way you teach... <3

[alaincohen]

Such a beautiful voice and teacher too. Enjoy to learn with you 🥰

[blessingfish]

Your teaching experience is lovely and your voice is very good too 🙂👍

[nicholepetrovich]

I've watched this a thousand times I've got everything but the chorus I don't know what keys you are talking about you are way ahead of beginners.

[yaronlavi]

I usually dont watch lessons and opt for synthesia tutorials, but this arrangement is the most simple and accurate one out there, thanks for the vid

[Rheaded]

I'm a guitar person but still watching every single of her video just because of her vibe she's got this very soothing voice

[Rocknrolldreamlp]

Best lesson of this on YouTube. Thank you

[pravesh]

I just don't know how much thankful I am for this lesson. Ever since I got the keyboard this was the song I was looking to learn but no legitimate tutorials were available. I kind of figured it out by myself but this lesson is definitely gonna make it even better. THANKS A LOT PIANOTE....🙏🙏🙏

[MrMerihs]

the best ''how to play on piano'' video that i ve seen and also i see you singing first....its really beautifull

[navyaagarwal]

It just feels awesome after learning from you.
You make me believe I can play it.
Thankyou

[johnbenedictmerlin]

I really love the part she sang " you don't know how lovely you areeee aaahhhr😍😍