Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Mad World on piano
Written by Roland Orzabal
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1983
- Easy
Learn Mad World in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Ab – Eb – Bb
Mad World sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmiiAbIVEbIBbV- FmF · Ab · C
- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 100 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb
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Questions about Mad World
What chords are in Mad World?
The loop is Fm – Ab – Eb – Bb (ii – IV – I – V) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Mad World in?
Eb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Mad World?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mad World 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 Mad World?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.