Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
Barely Breathing: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Duncan Sheik
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Barely Breathing written out as piano music: the vi – II – IV – V loop in G major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays skipping-stone pulse (root bass · 1 · 2& · 3&), and the right hand sings the tune.
Barely Breathing chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in G major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Em | vi | E G B |
| 2 | A | II | A C# E |
| 3 | C | IV | C E G |
| 4 | D | V | D F# A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: skipping-stone pulse (root bass · 1 · 2& · 3&) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the Em – A – C – D chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about Barely Breathing
Does the sheet music for Barely Breathing have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Barely Breathing?
The loop is Em – A – C – D (vi – II – IV – V) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Barely Breathing in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Barely Breathing?
Skipping-stone pulse: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Barely Breathing 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.