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 — Classic Piano Sheet Music
11 people have learned this song
Read "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of C. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 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”
- Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Absolute Beginners"?
- Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature C. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
- 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 the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
- Yes — "Absolute Beginners" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature C, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
- What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
- Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
- Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
- Yes — slow the tempo from 114 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
- Why can I click a note in the score?
- Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
- Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
- Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.
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