Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Beautiful Loser on piano
Written by Bob Seger
- A major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Beautiful Loser in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – D – A – C
How it goes
Beautiful Loser sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CbIIIDIVAICbIII- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Banana-peel slip
How it goes
Four steady beats on one note, then a quick slip down into the next bar. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-8-8-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 102 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: D – E7 – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DE7A- E7E · G# · B · D
Play next
Questions about Beautiful Loser
What chords are in Beautiful Loser?
The loop is C – D – A – C (bIII – IV – I – bIII) in A major, and the song ends on D – E7 – A.
What key is Beautiful Loser in?
A major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Beautiful Loser?
Banana-peel slip: broken chord 8-8-8-8-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Beautiful Loser 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.