What Do You Mean? — Quick Answer & Harmonic Definition

What Do You Mean? uses the chords F#m, D, A, E in the key of F#m. The progression follows a i–VI–III–VII pattern. This is a beginner-level song.

Pop · 2015 · Beginner

What Do You Mean?

by Justin Bieber
Key of F#m 120 BPM Beginner

Chord Sheet

Key of F#m · Progression: i–VI–III–VII

F#m
chord 1
D
chord 2
A
chord 3
E
chord 4
Chord Loop
F#m — D — A — E — ...
Roman Numeral Analysis
View the harmonic structure and functional analysis of this progression.
View Analysis →
Key
F#m
Tempo
120 BPM
Chords
4
Genre
Pop

Practice Tips for What Do You Mean?

  • →Start at 60 BPM (50% tempo) until chord changes feel smooth.
  • →Loop just the F#m→D transition repeatedly — this is often the hardest change.
  • →Use our Metronome set to 120 BPM for precise timing practice.
  • →Click any chord above to see its full piano keyboard and guitar fingering diagram.

How to Play What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber

What Do You Mean? (2015) is a beginner-level pop song that uses 4 chords: F#m, D, A, E in the key of F#m. The chord progression is i–VI–III–VII.

Chord Breakdown

  • F#m — minor chord, darker emotional sound
  • D — major chord, bright and stable
  • A — major chord, bright and stable
  • E — major chord, bright and stable

About What Do You Mean?

"What Do You Mean?" by Justin Bieber (released 2015) is one of the most recognizable pop songs ever recorded. Its 4-chord structure demonstrates how a simple progression can create an emotionally powerful and memorable piece of music. The combination of F#m, D, A creates a harmonic loop that feels both complete and constantly forward-moving.

Learning What Do You Mean? as a Beginner

If you're learning to play What Do You Mean?, start by getting comfortable with each chord individually before trying to switch between them. The goal is to make each chord change automatic — your fingers should know where to go without you having to think about it. Practice the chord loop slowly with a metronome, and you'll be playing the full song within a few weeks.

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Metronome
Practice at 120 BPM
Tuner
Tune your instrument
Piano
Play on virtual piano
Guitar
Play on fretboard

Knowledge Base & FAQs

What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber — FAQ

Everything you need to know about our browser-based Web Audio engine, instruments, and music theory workspace.

What chords are in What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber?

What Do You Mean? uses the chords F#m, D, A, E in the key of F#m.

The progression follows a i–VI–III–VII pattern. This is a beginner-level song.

What key is What Do You Mean? in?

What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber is in the key of F#m.

The primary chords are F#m, D, A.

What is the tempo of What Do You Mean??

What Do You Mean? is played at approximately 120 BPM.

This is a faster tempo — practice slowly first before bringing it to full speed. Use our free metronome to practice at exactly 120 BPM.

What strumming pattern does What Do You Mean? use?

What Do You Mean? is typically in 4/4 time.

A common strumming pattern is down-down-up-up-down-up (DDUUDU) or simplified all-down for beginners. Focus on getting chord changes smooth before adding strumming complexity.

How do I play F#m chord on guitar?

F#m is the main chord in What Do You Mean?.

See our chord library for the F#m chord diagram with exact fingering.

Can I play What Do You Mean? on piano?

Yes! What Do You Mean? sounds great on piano.

Play the chords F#m, D, A, E in root position or inversions. Left hand plays bass notes (root of each chord), right hand plays chord voicings. This is a beginner-level arrangement.

Is What Do You Mean? beginner-friendly?

Yes! What Do You Mean? is rated Beginner difficulty.

It uses 4 main chords (F#m, D, A), all easy open or basic chords. One of the best songs for new players to learn.

What is the chord progression in What Do You Mean??

The main progression in What Do You Mean? is F#m – D – A – E (Roman numeral: i–VI–III–VII).

This 4-chord pattern repeats throughout most of the song.

Can I transpose What Do You Mean? to a different key?

Yes! What Do You Mean? is in F#m.

To make it easier, try transposing to G or D using a capo. A capo changes your effective key while keeping the same chord shapes. Use our Transpose Tool to convert all chord names automatically.

What genre is What Do You Mean??

What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber is a Pop song from 2015.

Its 4-chord progression (F#m, D, A, E) translates naturally to different tempos and styles, making it a popular cover choice for musicians of all levels.