Life’s A Happy Song Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Life’s A Happy Song in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – Am – Dm – F
How it goes
Life’s A Happy Song sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIAmviDmiiFIV
- CC · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- FF · A · C
12 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Late-hop footsteps
How it goes
Steady low-high steps with one quick extra hop after beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 659 songs of the library.
Late-hop footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 132 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: C – Dm – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDmC

What chords are in Life’s A Happy Song?

The loop is C – Am – Dm – F (I – vi – ii – IV) in C major, and the song ends on C – Dm – C.

What key is Life’s A Happy Song in?

C major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Life’s A Happy Song?

Late-hop footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Life’s A Happy Song 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.