Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Complicated on piano
By Robin Thicke
- Db major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- Easy
Learn Complicated in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ebm – Bbm – Eb7 – Ebm
Complicated sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ebm is Eb, Gb and Bb; Bbm is Bb, Db and F; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbmiiBbmviEb7II7Ebmii- EbmEb · Gb · Bb
- BbmBb · Db · F
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Double-tap drop
The same note twice, long then short, then a drop to a lower note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 336 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
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 120 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: Gb – Ab – Db
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbAbDb- GbGb · Bb · Db
- AbAb · C · Eb
- DbDb · F · Ab
Play next
Questions about Complicated
What chords are in Complicated?
The loop is Ebm – Bbm – Eb7 – Ebm (ii – vi – II7 – ii) in Db major, and the song ends on Gb – Ab – Db.
What key is Complicated in?
Db major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Complicated?
Double-tap drop: broken chord 8-8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Complicated 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.