Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Awful, Beautiful Life on piano
Written by Darryl Worley & Harley Allen
- D major
- 4/4
- 116 BPM
- IV–I–IV–I loop
- 2004
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Awful, Beautiful Life in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – G – D
How it goes
Awful, Beautiful Life sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIVDIGIVDI- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 116 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: A – G – D
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AGD- AA · C# · E
Play next
Questions about Awful, Beautiful Life
What chords are in Awful, Beautiful Life?
The loop is G – D – G – D (IV – I – IV – I) in D major, and the song ends on A – G – D.
What key is Awful, Beautiful Life in?
D major, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Awful, Beautiful Life?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Awful, Beautiful Life easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.