Other arrangements of A Boy Named Sue
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Well, my daddy left home when I was three, and (Eb)didn’t leave much for Ma and me.
Just (F7)old guitar and an empty bottle of (Bb)booze.
Now, I don’t blame him because he run and hid, but (Eb)meanest thing that he ever did was be (F7)fore he left, he went and named me (Bb)Sue.
Well, he must have thought it quite a joke, and (Eb)got lots of laughs from lot of folks.
It (F7)seemed I had to fight my whole life (Bb)through.
Some gal would giggle and I’d get red.
And (Eb)some guy would and I’d his head, I (F7)tell you, life ain’t easy for boy named (Bb)Sue.
Well, daddy left home when I was three, and (Eb)didn’t leave much for Ma and me.
Just (F7)old guitar and an empty bottle of (Bb)booze.
Now, I don’t blame him because he run and hid, but (Eb)meanest thing that he ever did was be (F7)fore he left, he went and named me (Bb)Sue.
Well, he must have thought it quite a joke, and (Eb)got lots of laughs from lot of folks.
It (F7)seemed I had to fight my whole life (Bb)through.
Some gal would giggle and I’d get red.
And (Eb)some guy would and I’d his head, I (F7)tell you, life ain’t easy for boy named (Bb)Sue.
Well, (Bb)Sue.
A Boy Named Sue — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial
31 people have learned this song
Watch "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of Bb, 188 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “A Boy Named Sue”
- Can I learn "A Boy Named Sue" with falling notes like Synthesia?
- Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "A Boy Named Sue" with hands-separate practice in Bb at 188 BPM.
- What key is "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash played in?
- A Boy Named Sue is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "A Boy Named Sue"?
- The arrangement plays at 188 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "A Boy Named Sue" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "A Boy Named Sue"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "A Boy Named Sue"?
- "A Boy Named Sue" was originally performed by Johnny Cash. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What other songs by Johnny Cash can I play here?
- Try "GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN", "IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND", "HELP ME". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Can I practice left and right hand separately for "A Boy Named Sue"?
- Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "A Boy Named Sue" one hand at a time before combining them.
- What is falling notes style for "A Boy Named Sue"?
- Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "A Boy Named Sue" is in the key of Bb at 188 BPM.


