Bad Idea

by Sara Bareilles
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Lyrics

It’s a bad i de a, me and you.

It’s a bad i de a, me and you.

(G5)I’ve nev er known an y thing so true, it’s a (D5)ter ri ble i de a, me and you.

You have a wife.

You have a hus band.

You’re my doc tor.

You got a ba by com in’.

It’s a bad i de a, me and you.

May be Let’s just keep kis sing ’til we come to.

(A)Heart, stop rac in’.

Let’s (Bm)face it, mak ing mis (G)takes like this will make (D)worse what was al read y pret ty bad.

Mind, stop run nin’.

It’s (Bm)time we just let this thing go.

It was a (Gsus)pret ty good bad i de a, (D5)was n’t it though?

It’s a bad i de a, me and you.

It’s a bad i de a, me and you.

(G5)Hold me er close while I think this through.

It’s a (D5)ver y poor i de a, me and you.

I got a wife.

I got a hus band.

I’m your doct tor.

My dumb a ba by’s com in’.

It’s a bad i de a, me and you.

May be one more kiss will make ’til us come to.

(A)Heart, stop rac in’.

Let’s (Bm)face it, mak ing mis (G)takes like this will make (D)worse what was al read y pret ty bad.

Mind, stop run nin’.

It’s (Bm)time we just let this thing go.

It was a (Gsus)pret ty good bad i de a, (D5)was n’t it though?

(D5)was n’t it though?

(Dmaj7)I

know what’s (D)right for me, and it’s the (Bm7)on ly thing (F#m)I’ve ev er (Gmaj13)done.

What if I (Em11)nev er see my self ev er be an y thing (Bm)more than what I’ve (F#m)al read y be come?

I need a bad i de a, I need a bad i de a.

I need a bad i de a, I need a bad i de a, just one.

(A)Heart, keep rac in’.

Let’s (Bm)make mis takes, let us (G)say, “So what?” and make (D)worse what was al read y pret ty bad.

This se cret is (Bm)safe, no rea son to (G)throw it a way when there’s (D)love to be had.

(A)Hold me tight as I (Bm)tell my self that you (G)might make sense, and make (D)good what has been just so bad.

Let’s see this (Bm)through.

It’s a (Dm)pret ty good bad i dea,

me and you.

Bad Idea — Classic Piano Sheet Music

1 person has learned this song

Read "Bad Idea" by Sara Bareilles in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of D. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 168 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Bad Idea”

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Bad Idea"?
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 D. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Bad Idea" by Sara Bareilles played in?
Bad Idea is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Bad Idea"?
The arrangement plays at 168 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Bad Idea" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Bad Idea"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Bad Idea"?
"Bad Idea" was originally performed by Sara Bareilles. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Bad Idea"?
This arrangement uses 16 chords: A, Bm, Bm7, C#, D, Dm, Dmaj7, Dpow, +8 more.
What other songs by Sara Bareilles can I play here?
Try "Vegas", "Hold My Heart", "1000 TIMES". 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 — "Bad Idea" 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 D, 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 168 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.