Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
Helpless: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Neil Young
- D major
- 4/4
- 70 BPM
- I–V–IV–I loop
- Easy
Helpless written out as piano music: the I – V – IV – I loop in D major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays walking roots (root bass · quarters) and the right hand bossa chords.
Helpless chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in D major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | I | D F# A |
| 2 | A | V | A C# E |
| 3 | G | IV | G B D |
| 4 | D | I | D F# A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: walking roots (root bass · quarters) in the left hand and bossa chords in the right, over the D – A – G – D chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about Helpless
Does the sheet music for Helpless have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Helpless?
The loop is D – A – G – D (I – V – IV – I) in D major, and the song ends on A – G – D.
What key is Helpless in?
D major, at about 70 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Helpless?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Helpless 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.