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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 — Piano Lead Sheet
11 people have learned this song
"Absolute Beginners" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. 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”
- Where are the chord symbols for "Absolute Beginners" displayed?
- Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "Absolute Beginners" is in C.
- 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.
- Does "Absolute Beginners" have chords and lyrics?
- Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "Absolute Beginners" is in the key of C at 114 BPM.
- What chords are in "Absolute Beginners"?
- Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of C, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.
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