How to Play Perfect on Piano
Ed Sheeran
Perfect is a beginner piano piece by Ed Sheeran that most students can learn in 2-3 weeks.
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.
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.
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
Not sure Perfect matches your level? Take the free 2-minute piano level quiz — or settle it directly: upload the sheet music and play it back at half speed to see how it feels under your hands.
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 is the BPM of Perfect?
Perfect is typically played at 63 BPM, in A-flat major.
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.
Where to find the sheet music
- Free scores on IMSLP (Petrucci Music Library)
- Community sheet music on MuseScore
- Wikipedia: Ed Sheeran
Free public-domain editions of works like Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy are on IMSLP. For contemporary works, MuseScore has community arrangements.
Got the PDF? Upload it to Piano Nova — a photo of a printed page works too — and play Perfect straight from that edition, at your own tempo.
Ready to practice Perfect?
Upload your sheet music and start learning — at your tempo, hands separately, looping the hard parts.
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