Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
Space Oddity: piano accompaniment sheet music
By David Bowie
- C major
- 4/4
- 68 BPM
- Easy
Space Oddity written out as piano music: the I – iii – I – iii loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays drowsy heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&), and the right hand sings the tune.
Space Oddity 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 | Em | iii | E G B |
| 3 | C | I | C E G |
| 4 | Em | iii | 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: drowsy heartbeat (root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the C – Em – C – Em 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.
To see the real melody written out, play “The part you know”: the sheet music changes to it.
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Questions about Space Oddity
Does the sheet music for Space Oddity 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 Space Oddity?
The loop is C – Em – C – Em (I – iii – I – iii) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Space Oddity in?
C major, at about 68 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Space Oddity?
Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Space Oddity 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Space Oddity?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.