Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play I’m A Mess on piano
By Ed Sheeran
- C minor
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 2014
- Easy
Learn I’m A Mess in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Bb – Ab – Ab
I’m A Mess sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbVIIBbVIIAbVIAbVI- BbBb · D · F
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 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
Right hand: Pop stabs
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: Ab – Bb – Cm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about I’m A Mess
What chords are in I’m A Mess?
The loop is Bb – Bb – Ab – Ab (VII – VI – VII – VI) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is I’m A Mess in?
C minor, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in I’m A Mess?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I’m A Mess 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.
Can I hear the real melody of I’m A Mess?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.