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I Could Write A Book: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Jerry Butler
- C major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- 1940
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
I Could Write A Book written out as piano music: the VI7 – II7 – Vsus4 – V – ii – V – VI7 loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays lazy footsteps (root bass · 1 · 3 · 4) and the right hand steady chords.
I Could Write A Book chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C 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 | A7 | VI7 | A C# E G |
| 2 | D7 | II7 | D F# A C |
| 3 | Gsus4 | Vsus4 | G C D |
| 3 | G | V | G B D |
| 4 | Dm | ii | D F A |
| 4 | G | V | G B D |
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: lazy footsteps (root bass · 1 · 3 · 4) in the left hand and steady chords in the right, over the A7 – A7 – D7 – Gsus4 – G – Dm – G 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.
To see the real melody written out, play “The part you know”: the sheet music changes to it.
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Questions about I Could Write A Book
Does the sheet music for I Could Write A Book 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 I Could Write A Book?
The loop is A7 – A7 – D7 – Gsus4 – G – Dm – G (VI7 – II7 – Vsus4 – V – ii – V – VI7) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is I Could Write A Book in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in I Could Write A Book?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I Could Write A Book easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of I Could Write A Book?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.