Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
I’m A Mess: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Ed Sheeran
- C minor
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 2014
- Easy
I’m A Mess written out as piano music: the VII – VI – VII – VI loop in C minor for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays island pulse (root bass · tresillo 3-3-2) and the right hand pop stabs.
I’m A Mess chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C minor. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bb | VII | Bb D F |
| 3 | Ab | VI | Ab C Eb |
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: island pulse (root bass · tresillo 3-3-2) in the left hand and pop stabs in the right, over the Bb – Bb – Ab – Ab 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’m A Mess
Does the sheet music for I’m A Mess 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’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.