How to Practice Perfect on Piano
Ed Sheeran
About this piece
A modern wedding staple in a lilting 6/8 time signature. The four-flat key signature sounds intimidating but the black-key hand positions are actually very comfortable and ergonomic.
Practice tips
- The 6/8 time signature creates a gentle rocking feel — count '1-2-3-4-5-6' and accent beats 1 and 4 in the left-hand pattern to establish the waltz-like groove.
- The chord progression (Ab-Fm-Db-Eb) uses smooth voice leading in the right hand — find inversions where you only move one or two fingers between each chord change.
- In the final chorus, thicken the texture by adding octaves in the melody hand to create the soaring, climactic feel of the orchestral original.
Common mistake
Playing in 4/4 feel instead of 6/8 — the compound time signature is what gives this song its romantic, swaying character.
How long to learn
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Perfect to play on piano?
Perfect is rated Beginner. A modern wedding staple in a lilting 6/8 time signature.
How long does it take to learn Perfect?
For a beginner, expect 2-3 weeks. An intermediate player can learn it in 3-5 days.
What key is Perfect in?
Perfect is in A-flat major, typically performed at around 63 BPM.
What's the most common mistake when learning Perfect?
Playing in 4/4 feel instead of 6/8 — the compound time signature is what gives this song its romantic, swaying character.
Ready to practice Perfect?
Upload your sheet music and start learning — at your tempo, hands separately, looping the hard parts.
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