Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Live And Die on piano
Written by Scott Avett, Seth Avett & others
- C major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–vi–ii–V7 loop
- 2012
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Live And Die in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Am – Dm – G7
How it goes
Live And Die sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIAmviDmiiG7V7- CC · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sunrise
How it goes
Three notes keep climbing in quick loops, bright like the morning sun. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Dm – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmG7C
Play next
Questions about Live And Die
What chords are in Live And Die?
The loop is C – Am – Dm – G7 (I – vi – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is Live And Die in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Live And Die?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Live And Die easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.