Piano chords · Waltz garden
Once I Was: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Tim Buckley
- C major
- 3/4
- 118 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1968
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Once I Was written out as piano music: the I – IV – I – IV loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays waltz roots (root bass · 3/4 quarters) and the right hand sleepy waltz chords.
Once I Was 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 | C | I | C E G |
| 4 | F | IV | F A C |
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: waltz roots (root bass · 3/4 quarters) in the left hand and sleepy waltz chords in the right, over the C – F – C – F 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.
Play next
Questions about Once I Was
Does the sheet music for Once I Was 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 Was?
The loop is C – F – C – F (I – IV – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Once I Was in?
C major, at about 118 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Once I Was?
Waltz roots: root bass · 3/4 quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Once I Was 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.