Bertha

by Grateful Dead
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

I had a hard run,

Lord, I run nin’ from your win dow.

(G)I was all night (C)run nin’, run nin’.

Lord, I won der if you care.

(G)I had a I had a run in, fall in’, fall in’.

I run a round and a run down.

(G)Run a round the cor ner, cor ner.

Lord, you was ran smack in to a tree.

(C)I (C#)had to (D)move,

real ly had to (C)move.

(C)That’s why, if you (G)please, I am (D)on my bend ed (C)knees.

(Am)Ber tha, don’t you come a (C)round here an y more.

(G)Dressed my self in green.

storm,

Lord, I went down to the sea.

door.

(G)Try to see what’s (C)go in’ down, rain,

try to read be tween the lines.

(G)I had a feel in’ I was in, test me, test me.

I turned a round and to see.

me?

(G)Heard a voice a call in’.

cor ner.

Lord, you un com in’ af to ter me.

(C)I (C#)had to (D)move,

real ly had to (C)move.

(C)That’s why, if you (G)please, I am (D)on my bend ed (C)knees.

(Am)Ber tha, don’t you come a (C)round here an y more.

(G)Dressed my self in green.

(G)Ran in to a rain

An y more.

An y more.

An y more.

Bertha — Visual Piano Sheet Music

6 people have learned this song

"Bertha" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of G, 160 BPM.

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

About “Bertha”

Why does "Bertha" show as colored bars instead of notation?
Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Bertha".
What key is "Bertha" by Grateful Dead played in?
Bertha is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Bertha"?
The arrangement plays at 160 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Bertha" 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 "Bertha"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Bertha"?
"Bertha" was originally performed by Grateful Dead. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Bertha"?
This arrangement uses 5 chords: Am, C, C#, D, G.
What other songs by Grateful Dead can I play here?
Try "UNCLE JOHN'S BAND", "THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED", "SUGAR MAGNOLIA". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this real sheet music for "Bertha"?
It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Bertha".
Can I see all the notes in "Bertha"?
Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of G at 160 BPM.