Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play C’est La Vie on piano
Written by Vanessa Carlton
- B minor
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- 2004
- Medium
Learn C’est La Vie in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bm – A – G#dim – G
C’est La Vie sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; A is A, C# and E; G#dim is G#, B and D; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmiAVIIG#dimvi°GVI- BmB · D · F#
- AA · C# · E
- G#dimG# · B · D
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Slow-down chords
Quick chords rush through the first half, then slow down to land on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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 – A – Bm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm
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Questions about C’est La Vie
What chords are in C’est La Vie?
The loop is Bm – A – G#dim – G (i – bVII – vio – bVI) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.
What key is C’est La Vie in?
B minor, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in C’est La Vie?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is C’est La Vie 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.