Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Man Of Constant Sorrow on piano
By Traditional
- D minor
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Man Of Constant Sorrow in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – Dm – Bb7 – Dm
How it goes
Man Of Constant Sorrow sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmvDmiBb7VI7Dmi- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Froggy bounce
How it goes
Fifth, high root, low root, high root: a jolly hopping country bass. Musicians call it broken chord 5-8-1-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 133 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: Bb – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Man Of Constant Sorrow
What chords are in Man Of Constant Sorrow?
The loop is Am – Dm – Bb7 – Dm (v – i – bVI7 – i) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Man Of Constant Sorrow in?
D minor, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Man Of Constant Sorrow?
Froggy bounce: broken chord 5-8-1-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Man Of Constant Sorrow 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.