Piano tutorial

How to Play "A Case Of You" by Joni Mitchell on Piano

“A Case Of You” is in Db major, 4/4 time, at 102 BPM. This lesson teaches a simple version of the song: the melody in your right hand and easy chords in your left, one phrase at a time. The song has 18 phrases, and 2 of them repeat ones you will already know.

  • Db major
  • 4/4
  • 102 BPM
  • Advanced
  • Melody + easy chords
Starts with Phrase 1: Melody18 phrases

Free to play. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack.

Play the full songDownload to practice offline

What you need to know

Read from the song's own melody and chords. The left hand is kept simple on purpose.

Key and scale

Db major

5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb

DbEbFGbAbBbC

The Db major scale

Time signature

4/4

4 beats in every bar, at 102 BPM

The time signature changes during the song; this is the main one.

The chords you play

The song uses 8 chords. You learn them a phrase at a time: Db, Gb, Bbm, Ab, Absus4, Ebm, A and B.

Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Bbm where the sheet music writes Bbm7.

As the sheet music writes them

Your left hand for this song

Slow arpeggio

We'll use this simple left-hand pattern to accompany the melody: low, middle, high, middle, one note a beat. One note a beat keeps it calm at this tempo.

One easy shape per chordOptional, on steps 2 and 3Easier: Beat chords

Right hand

The melody

The tune the singer sings, one note at a time, with finger numbers.

Range Ab3 to Eb5Phrase by phrase

The lesson, step by step

3 short steps for each phrase of the song. Each one opens in the lesson player, so you can listen and play along on your own piano.

Every step is free to play
  1. Start hereRight hand

    Step 1: Melody

    Listen, then play the tune with your right hand, with finger numbers.

    Open this step
  2. Left hand

    Step 2: Chords

    Your left hand learns this phrase's chords: a bass note, block chords, or a simple pattern.

    Open this step
  3. Both hands

    Step 3: Hands together

    The melody with your left hand's chords under it. When you can play this, you can play the phrase.

    Open this step
  4. Then play the whole song

    When you can play every phrase, play the full sheet music with its backing track in the player.

    Play the full song

Frequently asked questions

What key is “A Case Of You” in?

“A Case Of You” is in Db major, which has 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb. The Db major scale is Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb and C.

What are the chords in “A Case Of You”?

The lesson plays 8 chords, one easy shape each: Db, Gb, Bbm, Ab, Absus4, Ebm, A and B. As the sheet music writes them: Db, Db/F, Gb, Gb/Ab, Bbm7, Bbm, Bbm(maj7), Ab, Ab7/Eb, Ab/C, Absus4, Ab7, Ebm11, Ebm7, A and B. Some chords are simplified on purpose: the lesson plays Bbm where the sheet music writes Bbm7.

What should my left hand play in “A Case Of You”?

First your left hand learns each phrase's chords on its own, then with the melody. It plays a bass note or a block chord when the chord changes, or a simple pattern: you choose, and the same choice stays on both steps.

What tempo is “A Case Of You”?

“A Case Of You” plays at 102 BPM in 4/4. Every step starts at the song's tempo, and you can slow it down as much as you need.

Is “A Case Of You” hard to play on piano?

It is rated Advanced, so take it one phrase at a time. The melody goes from Ab3 up to Eb5. The lesson teaches a simple version: the melody and one easy chord shape at a time in the left hand.

Where can I get the sheet music for “A Case Of You”?

Play the full sheet music free in the interactive player, or download a printable PDF. Unlock the song or go Premium to download the printable Practice Pack. It is this lesson on paper, with fingering, one left-hand style per PDF.

Sheet music in the playerDownload the PDFThe Practice Pack