Ordinary Pain Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Ordinary Pain in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Dm – G7 – Dm – G7
How it goes
Ordinary Pain sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmviG7II7DmviG7II7
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
15 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Sneaky heartbeat
How it goes
One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 436 songs of the library.
Sneaky heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Lingering chords
How it goes
Two chords, then a late one after beat 3 that hangs in the air. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Lingering chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 100 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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C

What chords are in Ordinary Pain?

The loop is Dm – G7 – Dm – G7 (vi – II7 – vi – II7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Ordinary Pain in?

F major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Ordinary Pain?

Sneaky heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Ordinary Pain 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.