Picture Book cover

Holding Back the Years

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Simply Red

Picture Book (1985)blue-eyed soulTop 5%4:28SpotifyYouTubeApple Music
Key: variesTuning: StandardTempo: 85 BPMestTime signature: 4/4

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Compare every playable arrangement, then open the exact version that has the parts you need.

100%11 tracks · 4,696 notes · G minor · 85 BPM· 4:28Recommended
Organ
Drums
Piano 1
Bass
Sax
Guitar 1
Strings 1
Piano 2
Guitar 2
Guitar 3
Strings 2
100%11 tracks · 3,928 notes · F major · 85 BPM· 4:28
Melody
Drums
Piano Ac
Bass
Muted trumpet
Chit. Ritm
Strings
Electric Piano
Chit. El 1
Chit. El 2
Strings 2
100%8 tracks · 6,306 notes · G major · 84 BPM· 4:26
FRETLESS
A.PIANO 1 1
A.PIANO 1 2
SLOWSTRING
JAZZ GTR
STRINGS
Alto sax
DRUMS
100%10 tracks · 4,166 notes · G major · 200 BPM· 4:18
Acoustic grand piano
Standard drum kit
Fretless bass
Electric Piano 2
Electric Guitar (clean) 1
Electric guitar (clean) 2
String Ensemble 2
Muted trumpet
Voice oohs
Alto sax
100%11 tracks · 3,945 notes · F major · 85 BPM· 4:28
Seq-1
Voice oohs
Standard drum kit
Electric Piano 2
Fretless bass
Muted trumpet
Electric guitar (clean)
Synth strings 1
Electric piano 1
Acoustic guitar (steel)
Acoustic guitar (nylon)
String Ensemble 2
100%15 tracks · 596 notes · G major · 125 BPM· 1:10partial
HOLDBACK.MID
Acoustic Grand Piano 1
Acoustic grand piano 2
Acoustic grand piano 3
Acoustic grand piano 4
Electric Bass (finger) 1
Electric bass (finger) 2
Electric guitar (clean)
Flute
Standard drum kit
String Ensemble 2
Electric Guitar (jazz) 1
Electric Piano 2
Synth strings 1
Electric guitar (jazz) 2

Musical analysis below is derived from the recommended version —11 tracks · 4:28

Free sheet music for Holding Back the Years

Read the opening of the piano part below, then open the complete arrangement in Score view.

Piano · measures 9–22

About this song

Holding Back the Years by Simply Red, around 85 BPM, 4/4 time. This 11-track arrangement runs 4:28 (Electric piano 1, Electric piano 2, Rock organ, Acoustic guitar (nylon), Acoustic guitar (steel), Electric guitar (clean), and Drums). 6 versions available to play and practice.

Difficulty by instrument

How hard each detected part is to play in the recommended version.

DrumsIntermediate
4.24 notes/sec
KeysIntermediate
1.21 notes/sec
PianoIntermediate
3.39 notes/sec
BassBeginner
1.85 notes/sec
GuitarBeginner
1.22 notes/sec
OtherBeginner
0.21 notes/sec
OtherBeginner
1.13 notes/sec

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Featured in

Holding Back the Years appears on the soundtrack of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Only Fools and Horses: The Album.