What key is "Bigmouth Strikes Again" in?

"Bigmouth Strikes Again" by The Smiths is in the key of C# with a tempo of 136 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "Bigmouth Strikes Again" easy to play on piano?

This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.

Can I play "Bigmouth Strikes Again" without reading sheet music?

Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.

What chords are used in "Bigmouth Strikes Again"?

This arrangement of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" uses 9 chords: A, B, B6, Bpow, C#m, Cpow, E, F#, +1 more.

How long does it take to learn "Bigmouth Strikes Again" on piano?

2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.

What other songs by The Smiths can I play here?

Try "THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT", "HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW", "THE BOY WITH THE THORN IN HIS SIDE". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

(C#m)Sweet ness, (E)sweet ness, I was on ly (C#m)jok ing when I (A)said I’d like to (C#m)smash ev ’ry tooth (E)in your head.

Oh,

(C#m)sweet ness, (E)sweet ness, I was on ly (C#m)jok ing when I (A)said, by rights, you (C#m)should be bludg eoned (E)in your bed.

And now I (B)know how Joan of (C#m)Arc felt, (E)now I know how Joan of (C#m)Arc felt,

as the (C#m)flames rose to her Rom (E)an (F#)nose and her Walk ing man (C#m)start ed to melt.

Ooh.

(C#m)Ooh, ooh,

ooh.

Ooh,

ooh.

(C#m)Big mouth, la da da da da.

(C#m)Big mouth, la da da (A)da.

(B)Big mouth strikes a gain, and I’ve got (E)no right to take my place in the (C#m)hu man race.

Oh, oh, oh, (C#m)Big mouth, la da da da da.

(C#m)Big mouth, la da da (A)da.

(B)Big mouth strikes a gain, and I’ve got (E)no right to take my place in the (C#m)hu man race.

Oh, oh, oh, (C#m)hu man race.

And now I (B)know how Joan of

(C#m)Big mouth, la da da da da.

(C#m)Big mouth, la da da (A)da.

(B)Big mouth strikes a gain, and I’ve got (E)no right to take my place in the (C#m)hu man race.

(A)Oh, oh, oh, oh, (C#m)Big mouth, la da da da da.

(C#m)Big mouth, la da da (A)da.

(B)Big mouth strikes a gain, and I’ve got (E)no right to take my place in the (C#m)hu man race.

(A)Oh, oh, oh, oh, (C#m)hu man race.

Bigmouth Strikes Again by The Smiths

76 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of C# at 136 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a fantastic workout for coordinating an Alberti bass pattern in your left hand against driving right-hand chords at a brisk 136 BPM — so start slow, around 80–90 BPM, and build up gradually.

Your left hand needs to feel automatic before you layer the right hand on top; drill it alone until the rolling bass motion sits comfortably under C#m, G#m, and F# without you having to think about finger placement.

The trickiest transitions are moving between the power chords (Bpow, Cpow) and the fuller shapes like B6 and E — these happen quickly, so isolate those two-bar passages and loop them until the jumps feel smooth.

Watch your timing on the B to C#m shifts especially; at tempo it's tempting to rush.

Use the sustain pedal lightly to connect chord changes, but lift cleanly so the energetic feel doesn't turn muddy.

This is the piece that'll lock in your confidence with Alberti bass at real rock tempos — once your left hand owns that pattern here, you'll carry it into everything.

About “Bigmouth Strikes Again”

What key is "Bigmouth Strikes Again" in?: "Bigmouth Strikes Again" by The Smiths is in the key of C# with a tempo of 136 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "Bigmouth Strikes Again" easy to play on piano?: This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.
Can I play "Bigmouth Strikes Again" without reading sheet music?: Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
What chords are used in "Bigmouth Strikes Again"?: This arrangement of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" uses 9 chords: A, B, B6, Bpow, C#m, Cpow, E, F#, +1 more.
How long does it take to learn "Bigmouth Strikes Again" on piano?: 2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.
What other songs by The Smiths can I play here?: Try "THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT", "HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW", "THE BOY WITH THE THORN IN HIS SIDE". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.