Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Hard To Handle on piano
Written by Allen Jones, Alvertis Bell & others
- B major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I7–IV–I7–IV loop
- 1968
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hard To Handle in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: B7 – E – B7 – E
How it goes
Hard To Handle sits in B major: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B7 is B, D#, F# and A; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
B7I7EIVB7I7EIV- B7B · D# · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- 2
Left hand: Hurry-and-wait pulse
How it goes
Three quick notes rush out early, then the bass waits for the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 336 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Swing push
How it goes
Three chords tumble out early with a swing, then the bar breathes. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: A – E – B
How it goes
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AEB- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
Play next
Questions about Hard To Handle
What chords are in Hard To Handle?
The loop is B7 – E – B7 – E (I7 – IV – I7 – IV) in B major, and the song ends on A – E – B.
What key is Hard To Handle in?
B major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hard To Handle?
Hurry-and-wait pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hard To Handle 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.