Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play My Life on piano
By Billy Joel
- D major
- 4/4
- 132 BPM
- 1978
- Easy
Learn My Life in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ebmaj7 – Ebmaj7 – Bb – D – Bm – Am – Am
My Life sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: Ebmaj7 is Eb, G, Bb and D; Bb is Bb, D and F; D is D, F# and A; Bm is B, D and F#; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Ebmaj7bIImaj7Ebmaj7bIImaj7BbbVIDIBmviAmvAmv- Ebmaj7Eb · G · Bb · D
- BbBb · D · F
- DD · F# · A
- BmB · D · F#
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 132 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
Play next
Questions about My Life
What chords are in My Life?
The loop is Ebmaj7 – Ebmaj7 – Bb – D – Bm – Am – Am (bIImaj7 – bVI – I – vi – v – bIImaj7 – bVI) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is My Life in?
D major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in My Life?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is My Life easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of My Life?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.