Shameless Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Shameless in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – D – Em – C
Shameless sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIDVEmviCIV
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
266 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Hop-back bounce
High, low, then back up to stay: a simple, sturdy bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-8-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 171 songs of the library.
Hop-back bounceBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Ticking clock
One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Ticking clockRepeated-note pulse · RockRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 80 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: C – D – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG

What chords are in Shameless?

The loop is G – D – Em – C (I – V – vi – IV) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Shameless in?

G major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Shameless?

Hop-back bounce: broken chord 8-5-8-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Shameless easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.