Piano chords · Slow dance ’50s
Once I Had a Woman: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by Jimi Hendrix
- F# major
- 12/8
- 99 BPM
- I7–IV7–I7–V7 loop
- 1976
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Once I Had a Woman written out as piano music: the I7 – IV7 – I7 – V7 loop in F# 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 Woman chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in F# 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 | F#7 | I7 | F# A# C# E |
| 2 | B7 | IV7 | B D# F# A |
| 3 | F#7 | I7 | F# A# C# E |
| 4 | C#7 | V7 | C# E# G# B |
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 F#7 – B7 – F#7 – C#7 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 Woman
Does the sheet music for Once I Had a Woman 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 Woman?
The loop is F#7 – B7 – F#7 – C#7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – V7) in F# major, and the song ends on B – C# – F#.
What key is Once I Had a Woman in?
F# major, at about 99 beats a minute in 12/8.
What does the left hand play in Once I Had a Woman?
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 Woman 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.