Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
Once I Had A Laugh: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by Norah Jones
- C major
- 12/8
- 107 BPM
- I–IV–iii–ii loop
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Once I Had A Laugh written out as piano music: the I – IV – iii – ii loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays slow-dance heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8)), and the right hand sings the tune.
Once I Had A Laugh chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | I | C E G |
| 2 | F | IV | F A C |
| 3 | Em | iii | E G B |
| 4 | Dm | ii | D F A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: slow-dance heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8)) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the C – F – Em – Dm chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about Once I Had A Laugh
Does the sheet music for Once I Had A Laugh have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Once I Had A Laugh?
The loop is C – F – Em – Dm (I – IV – iii – ii) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – F – C.
What key is Once I Had A Laugh in?
C major, at about 107 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Once I Had A Laugh?
Slow-dance heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 (12/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Once I Had A Laugh 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.