Other arrangements of Absolute Beginners
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I’ve no thing much to (Am)of fer,
there’s no thing much to (Ddim)take,
I’m an ab so lute be (C)gin ner,
but I’m ab so lute ly (Am)sane.
As long as we’re to (Am)- ther,
the rest can go to (Ddim)hell,
I’m I ab so lute ly (C)love you,
but we’re ab so lute be (Am)sane.
As long as we’re to (Am)- ners.
With eyes com (C)plete ly op en,
but ner vous all the (G)same.
If our (C)love song
could fly o ver (F)moun tains,
could laugh at the (Am)o cean,
just like the (E7)films,
(G)there’s no (C)rea son
to feel all the (F)hard times,
to lay down the (Am)hard lines,
it’s ab so lute ly (G)true.
Ba ba ba (G)ooh,
ba ba ba (C)ooh.
Absolute Beginners — Visual Piano Sheet Music
11 people have learned this song
"Absolute Beginners" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of C, 114 BPM.
This arrangement is a great way to stretch beyond basic C-major territory — you've got nine chords here, and a few of them, especially the B♭ and D diminished, will feel unfamiliar under your fingers at first.
Your left hand keeps a steady pedal bass, which means it mostly anchors on one repeated note while your right hand moves through the chord changes, so start hands-separate and get that right hand confident before combining.
At 114 BPM the pace is moderate, but watch the transitions into B♭ and the E7 — those shapes sit differently on the keys, so loop those specific measures slowly until the reach feels natural.
The D diminished chord is brief but easy to fumble; know exactly which three notes you're hitting before you arrive.
Once it clicks, you'll find this song genuinely builds your comfort with chromatic chords outside the home key, which is a skill that opens up so much repertoire down the road.
Try other practice modes:
About “Absolute Beginners”
- Why does "Absolute Beginners" show as colored bars instead of notation?
- Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Absolute Beginners".
- What key is "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie played in?
- Absolute Beginners is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Absolute Beginners"?
- The arrangement plays at 114 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Absolute Beginners" easy to play on piano?
- This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
- Can I download sheet music for "Absolute Beginners"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Absolute Beginners"?
- "Absolute Beginners" was originally performed by David Bowie. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Absolute Beginners"?
- This arrangement uses 9 chords: Am, Bb, C, Ddim, Dm, E, E7, F, +1 more.
- What other songs by David Bowie can I play here?
- Try "Changes", "UNDER PRESSURE", "YOUNG AMERICANS". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is this real sheet music for "Absolute Beginners"?
- It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Absolute Beginners".
- Can I see all the notes in "Absolute Beginners"?
- Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of C at 114 BPM.
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