Eyes On Me – Nobuo Uematsu

About this piece

Eyes On Me is the theme song of Final Fantasy VIII, the role-playing game released by Square in 1999. It was composed by Nobuo Uematsu, the composer behind much of the music of the Final Fantasy series, and its romantic melody remains a favourite among game music fans and pianists alike.

This version lasts just over three minutes, about 3:03, in 4/4 at 92 beats per minute. Each hand has its own part, and the range is wide, from D2 in the bass to A6 high in the treble. The ballad tempo leaves time to shape each phrase, but the long span means your hands will travel a lot and the melody has to stay above the accompaniment.

Here on the web you can play a 30-second preview, while the full song, together with lessons and fingering, is available in the EzPiano app. Begin by listening to the preview once in Listen mode, then select the right hand and work through it in Wait mode. Practise the left hand separately so its wide jumps become familiar, and set the speed to around 60 % when you first combine both hands. An A–B loop helps you repeat any phrase that climbs into the high register, and note names make the upper keys easier to read at a glance.