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 — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
23 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. 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”
- 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 there a karaoke version of "Absolute Beginners" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "Absolute Beginners" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in C, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "Absolute Beginners" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.