The Bare Necessities

by Terry Gilkyson
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of “The Bare Necessities”
Two-handed piano arrangement — color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of The Bare Necessities

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Lyrics

Look for the bare ne ces si ties, the (Bb)sim ple (Bbmaj7)bare ne (Bb7)ces si ties; for (F)get a bout your (D7)wor ries and your (G7)strife.

I (C7aug)mean the bare ne (F7)ces si ties, or (Bb)Moth er Na ture’s (Bb7)re ci pes that (F)bring the (D7)bare ne (G7)ces si ties of (F)life.

(CN.C.)Wher ev er I (C7)wan der, wher ev er I (F)roam,

I could n’t be (C7)fond er of my big (F)home.

The bees are (Bb)buzz in’ in the (Bbm)tree to make some (F)ho ney just for (G7)me.

(Dm7)You look un der the (D7)rocks and plants and (Gm)take a glance (D7)at the (Gm)fan (G7)cy (C)ants, (C7)then (F)may be try a (D7)few.

The bare ne (Gm7)ces si ties of (C7)life will come to (F)you,

they’ll (C7)come to (F)you!

Look for the

you

that’s (Bb)why a bear can (Bb7)rest at ease with (F)jus

o

(CN.C.)When you pick a (C7)paw paw or pric kl y (F)pear,

and you prick a (C7)raw paw next time be (F)ware.

Don’t pick the (Bb)prick ly pear by (Bbm)paw, when you pick a (F)pear, try to use the (G7)claw.

(Dm7)you don’t need to (D7)use the claw when you (Gm)pick pear (D7)of (Gm)big (G7)paw (C)paw, (C7)have I (F)giv en you (D7)clue?

The bare ne (Gm7)ces si ties of (C7)life will come to (F)you,

they’ll (C7)come to (F)you!

Look for the (F)you!

The Bare Necessities — Piano Accompaniment Track

23 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "The Bare Necessities" by Terry Gilkyson. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. Key of Bb, 160 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Bb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “The Bare Necessities”

How do the bar-notation visuals help sing "The Bare Necessities" with this backing?
Each chord change drops as a colored bar across the staff, scrolling in real time so you can see exactly when the harmony shifts. Helpful for hitting entrances and judging when to breathe — especially on phrases that don't begin on beat 1 of "The Bare Necessities".
What key is the piano accompaniment for "The Bare Necessities" by Terry Gilkyson in?
The backing track is in Bb at 160 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "The Bare Necessities" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "The Bare Necessities"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "The Bare Necessities", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "The Bare Necessities" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "The Bare Necessities"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "The Bare Necessities"?
"The Bare Necessities" was originally performed by Terry Gilkyson. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
How do I use "The Bare Necessities" as a backing track?
Just press play — the piano accompaniment runs from start to end, no vocals. Sing, hum, or play your own instrument over it. Use the mic icon to add a vocal melody as a pitch reference, and the speed control if you want a slower practice tempo.
Can I change the key of "The Bare Necessities" to fit my voice?
Yes — the original is in Bb, but the player has a live transpose control so you can shift up or down semitones until the melody sits in your vocal range. The piano accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.

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