Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play It’s A Great Day To Be Alive on piano
Written by Darrell Scott
- G major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- IV–I–V–vi loop
- 1994
- Medium
Learn It’s A Great Day To Be Alive in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – G – D – Em
It’s A Great Day To Be Alive sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIVGIDVEmvi- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hurrying chords
Calm chords in the first half, then twice as fast to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: G – C – G
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GCG
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Questions about It’s A Great Day To Be Alive
What chords are in It’s A Great Day To Be Alive?
The loop is C – G – D – Em (IV – I – V – vi) in G major, and the song ends on G – C – G.
What key is It’s A Great Day To Be Alive in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in It’s A Great Day To Be Alive?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is It’s A Great Day To Be Alive easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.