Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Spice Of Life on piano
Written by Rod Temperton & Derek Bramble
- F major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1983
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Spice Of Life in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Gm – Bb – Gm – Bb
How it goes
Spice Of Life sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm is G, Bb and D; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GmiiBbIVGmiiBbIV- GmG · Bb · D
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 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- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
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Questions about Spice Of Life
What chords are in Spice Of Life?
The loop is Gm – Bb – Gm – Bb (ii – IV – ii – IV) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Spice Of Life in?
F major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Spice Of Life?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Spice Of 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.