Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play These Hard Times on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn These Hard Times in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D – G – D – G
How it goes
These Hard Times sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIGIVDIGIV
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
782 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Knock-knock footsteps
How it goes
Step, then a quick knock-knock, a pause, and one last step. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 471 songs of the library.
Knock-knock footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Tiptoe chords
How it goes
One firm chord, then three tiptoe chords between the beats. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Tiptoe chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 96 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in These Hard Times?

The loop is D – G – D – G (I – IV – I – IV) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is These Hard Times in?

D major, at about 96 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in These Hard Times?

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

Is These Hard Times 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.