It’s Not Unusual Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn It’s Not Unusual in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: G – G – Am7 – D7
How it goes
It’s Not Unusual sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Am7 is A, C, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIGIAm7ii7D7V7
- GG · B · D
- Am7A · C · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
62 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Pop heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Heartbeat chords
How it goes
Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Heartbeat chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 144 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: Am – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmD7G
- AmA · C · E

What chords are in It’s Not Unusual?

The loop is G – G – Am7 – D7 (I – ii7 – V7 – I) in G major, and the song ends on Am – D7 – G.

What key is It’s Not Unusual in?

G major, at about 144 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in It’s Not Unusual?

Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is It’s Not Unusual 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 It’s Not Unusual?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the repeating figure of the song from a score, with both hands.