Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Don't Know Nothing on piano
By Maroon 5
- C major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- 2010
- Easy
Learn Don't Know Nothing in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – G – Bb – G
Don't Know Nothing sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbbVIIGVBbbVIIGV- BbBb · D · F
- GG · B · 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 130 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Don't Know Nothing
What chords are in Don't Know Nothing?
The loop is Bb – G – Bb – G (bVII – V – bVII – V) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Don't Know Nothing in?
C major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Don't Know Nothing?
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 Don't Know Nothing 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.