Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Real Life on piano
Written by Jonathan Larson
- C minor
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- 2001
- Easy
Learn Real Life in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fsus4 – Ebsus4 – Cm – Ab
Real Life sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fsus4 is F, Bb and C; Ebsus4 is Eb, Ab and Bb; Cm is C, Eb and G; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Fsus4IVsus4Ebsus4IIIsus4CmiAbVI- Fsus4F · Bb · C
- Ebsus4Eb · Ab · Bb
- CmC · Eb · G
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 120 BPM
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: Ab – Bb – Cm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm- BbBb · D · F
Play next
Questions about Real Life
What chords are in Real Life?
The loop is Fsus4 – Ebsus4 – Cm – Ab (IVsus – bIIIsus – i – bVI) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is Real Life in?
C minor, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Real Life?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Real Life 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.