Other arrangements of Ball And Chain
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Sit tin’ by my win dow,
and I was look in’ out (D7)at the rain.
I said, Sit tin’ by my win dow, ba by,
and I was sit tin’ there look in’ out at the rain.
You know you some thin’ struck me,
clamped on to me just (D7)like a...
just like a ball mis and chain.
I said, oh, oh, by my ba by,
why you wan na do these (D7)ol’ mean things?
I said, Sit oh, by my oh, dow, ba by,
why you wan na do these ol’ mean things at to me?
Be cause you know I love you,
and I’m so sick and (D7)tired a...
of liv in’ in mis er y.
I said, (A7)I said that love’s gon na last with you for ev er,
it’s gon na last.
I said it’s gon na last,
oh, great God Al might y,
for all e ter ni ty,
(G7)Whoa, (D7)yeah.
Ball And Chain — Simple Sheet Music
9 people have learned this song
"Ball And Chain" in simplified sheet music format — the bridge between beginner modes and real sheet music. Color-coded notes with lyrics scrolling horizontally. Perfect for learning to read music. Key of D, 90 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “Ball And Chain”
- How does Simplified Piano Arrangement differ from full sheet music for "Ball And Chain"?
- Simplified Arrangement keeps the melody and chords on a simplified staff with lyrics, color-coded for easy recognition. It's a learner-bridge between Beginner mode and the classic engraved Sheet Music — same song, less visual density.
- What key is "Ball And Chain" by Janis Joplin played in?
- Ball And Chain 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 "Ball And Chain"?
- The arrangement plays at 90 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Ball And Chain" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "Ball And Chain"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Ball And Chain"?
- "Ball And Chain" was originally performed by Janis Joplin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Ball And Chain"?
- This arrangement uses 5 chords: A7, C, D, D7, G7.
- What other songs by Janis Joplin can I play here?
- Try "ME AND BOBBY McGEE", "LITTLE GIRL BLUE", "PIECE OF MY HEART". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is Simple Sheet good for learning to read sheet music?
- Yes! Simple Sheet bridges the gap between beginner color-coded modes and traditional notation. Notes are displayed on a simplified staff with colors, lyrics, and chords — helping you build music reading skills gradually while still enjoying "Ball And Chain". Key of D, 90 BPM.
- What's the difference between Simple Sheet and Lead Sheet?
- Simple Sheet shows a more streamlined, horizontally scrolling view with color-coded notes on a staff and lyrics below — like a simplified version of real sheet music. Lead Sheet shows melody with chord symbols above and full lyrics. Simple Sheet is the next step toward reading traditional notation.


