Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play No Woman No Cry on piano
By Bob Marley
- C major
- 4/4
- 88 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn No Woman No Cry in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – F – G – C – G – Am
How it goes
No Woman No Cry sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVFIVGVCIGVAmvi- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
How it goes
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 88 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 – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC
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Questions about No Woman No Cry
What chords are in No Woman No Cry?
The loop is C – F – F – G – C – G – Am (I – IV – V – I – V – vi – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is No Woman No Cry in?
C major, at about 88 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in No Woman No Cry?
Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is No Woman No Cry 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 No Woman No Cry?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune 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.