Piano chords · Lullaby boat
How to play Bed Of Roses on piano
By Bon Jovi
- F major
- 12/8
- 75 BPM
- IV–I–IV–I loop
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Bed Of Roses in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – F – Bb – F
How it goes
Bed Of Roses sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVFIBbIVFI- BbBb · D · F
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Hammock heartbeat
How it goes
Long-short, long-short: the low notes sway like a hammock. Musicians call it root bass · 6/8 lilt (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 128 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Rowing-boat chords
How it goes
Six even chords per bar, rolling along like oars on water. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 75 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: C – Bb – F
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CBbF- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about Bed Of Roses
What chords are in Bed Of Roses?
The loop is Bb – F – Bb – F (IV – I – IV – I) in F major, and the song ends on C – Bb – F.
What key is Bed Of Roses in?
F major, at about 75 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Bed Of Roses?
Hammock heartbeat: root bass · 6/8 lilt, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Bed Of Roses 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.