Piano chords · Lullaby boat
How to play It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go on piano
Written by Nanci Griffith
- C major
- 6/8
- 98 BPM
- IV–I–V–IV loop
- 1989
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C – G – F
How it goes
It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVCIGVFIV- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Swelling 6/8
How it goes
Rises to the top and falls back in one rocking six-note wave. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-8-10-8-5 (6/8) (open arpeggio), a medium pattern heard in 73 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 98 BPM
How it goes
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 – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GFC
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Questions about It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go
What chords are in It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go?
The loop is F – C – G – F (IV – I – V – IV) in C major, and the song ends on G – F – C.
What key is It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go in?
C major, at about 98 beats a minute in 6/8.
What does the left hand play in It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go?
Swelling 6/8: open arpeggio 1-5-8-10-8-5 (6/8), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go 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.