Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Don’t Go Away Mad on piano
Written by Nikki Sixx
- C major
- 4/4
- 115 BPM
- IV–I–IV–I loop
- 1989
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Don’t Go Away Mad in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C – F – C
How it goes
Don’t Go Away Mad sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVCIFIVCI- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
How it goes
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Gospel-clap chords
How it goes
Skips beat 1, then soulful chords that bounce off the “ands”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 115 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: Bb – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbFC- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Don’t Go Away Mad
What chords are in Don’t Go Away Mad?
The loop is F – C – F – C (IV – I – IV – I) in C major, and the song ends on Bb – F – C.
What key is Don’t Go Away Mad in?
C major, at about 115 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Don’t Go Away Mad?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Don’t Go Away Mad 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.