Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Don’t Worry About Me on piano

By Frances

Tuning the piano…
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Style

Left hand Island pulseThe right hand sings the tuneChords the loop the song repeats most

Learn Don’t Worry About Me in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

  1. 1

    Chords: Em – D – Em – D

    Don’t Worry About Me sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    EmiiDIEmiiDI
    • EmE · G · B
    • DD · F# · A
    52 songs go round the same chords
  2. 2

    Left hand: Island pulse

    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. 3

    Right hand: the chords, held

    In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.

  4. 4

    Both hands at 72 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. 5

    Ending: D – Dsus4 – D

    The last chords are I – Isus – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.

    DDsus4D
    • Dsus4D · G · A

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Questions about Don’t Worry About Me

What chords are in Don’t Worry About Me?

The loop is Em – D – Em – D (ii – I – ii – I) in D major, and the song ends on D – Dsus4 – D.

What key is Don’t Worry About Me in?

D major, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Don’t Worry About Me?

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 Worry About Me 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.