Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A – D – E – A
How it goes
Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIDIVEVAI
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
215 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pumping chords
How it goes
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pumping chordsPumping 8ths · RockRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 85 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: D – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA

What chords are in Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad?

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

What key is Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad in?

A major, at about 85 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad?

Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad 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.