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Interactive piano tutorial for "Friend" by Roberta Flack, in E major at about 107 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Slow it down to learn it at your own pace.

Interactive piano roll preview for "Friend" by Roberta Flack
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Preview of the interactive piano roll for “Friend” by Roberta Flack.

Friend by Roberta Flack
Piano Tutorial

Piano rollFalling notes

This interactive piano roll is a play-along piano tutorial for "Friend" by Roberta Flack, and one of the simplest ways to learn the song on piano. Every note falls onto the keyboard so you can see exactly what to play and when, and you can slow it right down to work through the fast parts before building back up to full speed.

Inside the music
Signature

Music DNA

Genrefolk · singer‑songwriter · acoustic pop
Moodmelancholic · reflective · tender
SignatureAcoustic folk ballad with a warm, intimate feel
E major
Key
107
BPM
4/4
Time
Chords

The progression

A
B
C♯m7
E
Gm7
C
B♭maj/3
B♭
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVerseChorusVerseChorusBridgeChorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

acoustic guitar
gentle, fingerpicked accompaniment
female lead vocals
clear, warm, expressive timbre; melodic, heartfelt delivery
electric bass
soft, supportive low end
light drums
subtle, brushed or soft‑hit kit providing a steady, unobtrusive pulse
piano
gentle, melodic accompaniment that adds harmonic depth
Album & artist
ALBUM

Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972)

A collaborative record with fellow Atlantic artist Donny Hathaway, produced by Joel Dorn and Arif Mardin, it paired two singers who had both attended Howard University and already overlapped creatively. The single 'Where Is the Love' reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

All of Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
Artist

Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack was an American R&B and soul singer born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, who studied piano from childhood and earned a degree from Howard University. She taught school in North Carolina and Washington, D.C. before signing with Atlantic Records in 1968 and releasing her debut album in 1969. Her voice and piano-rooted approach made her one of the defining figures in quiet, introspective soul music across the 1970s.

All Roberta Flack songs
How it works

From a recording to your part in three steps

  1. Step 1
    Bring the recording

    Paste a YouTube link or upload an audio file, the studio cut, a live take, or a cover.

  2. Step 2
    We transcribe it

    Our model listens and arranges this exact performance for piano.

  3. Step 3
    Play & export

    Read it on screen, transpose, slow it down, and export the piano tutorial when it feels right.

Ready to play it?

Start from any recording, your piano tutorial in minutes.

FAQ

Good to know

What key is "Friend" in?

"Friend" by Roberta Flack is in E major.

What is the tempo of "Friend"?

"Friend" plays at around 107 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chords are in "Friend"?

The core progression is A, B, C♯m7, E, Gm7, and C, built around the E major tonal center.

What instruments play on "Friend"?

The recording features acoustic guitar, female lead vocals, electric bass, light drums, and piano.

Can I get a piano roll for "Friend"?

Yes. Songscription turns "Friend" by Roberta Flack into an interactive piano roll you can play along with.

Is "Friend" piano tutorial easy to learn?

The piano roll shows every note of "Friend" falling onto the keys, and you can slow it right down so the fast parts come a few notes at a time. At 107 BPM in E major, it is very learnable once you ease off the speed.

What album is "Friend" on?

"Friend" appears on Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972).

How does Songscription turn a song into sheet music?

Give it a recording, a YouTube link or an audio file, and its AI transcribes that performance into notation for the instrument and level you choose.

Can I get sheet music for a live or cover version?

Yes. The score is generated from whatever recording you pick, so a live take, a remix, or a cover each match that exact performance.

What instruments and formats are available?

Piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, sax, bass, drums, vocals and more, as standard sheet music, a piano roll, or guitar tabs.

Is Songscription free to use?

You can try it free, with no credit card needed.

Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?

Yes. You get a downloadable PDF, plus in-app playback and the option to transpose or adjust the arrangement before you print.

How accurate is the transcription?

It is produced by AI trained on millions of bars of music, and you can play it back and fine-tune any details before you download.

Is this transcription licensed?

Yes. We have licensed this track from its publisher, so we are permitted to transcribe it and provide the sheet music to you.

Transcribed from licensed catalogs by AI trained on millions of bars of music.

Made with in California.