Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Can't Keep A Good Man Down on piano
By Alabama
- G major
- 4/4
- 132 BPM
- 1984
- Easy
Learn Can't Keep A Good Man Down in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – C – G – Gsus4
Can't Keep A Good Man Down sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G; Gsus4 is G, C and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GICIVGIGsus4Isus4- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- Gsus4G · C · D
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Springy chords
A quick double skip at the start, then steady chords to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 132 BPM
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: G – C – G
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GCG
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Questions about Can't Keep A Good Man Down
What chords are in Can't Keep A Good Man Down?
The loop is G – C – G – Gsus4 (I – IV – I – Isus) in G major, and the song ends on G – C – G.
What key is Can't Keep A Good Man Down in?
G major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Can't Keep A Good Man Down?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Can't Keep A Good Man Down 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.