But Not For Me

by George Gershwin
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Lyrics

They’re writ ing (F)songs of love, but not for (Fmaj7)me.

A luck y (G7)star’s a bove, but not for (F7)me.

With love to (Bbdim)lead (Bb)the (Gm7)way I’ve found more (Fdim)clouds (F)of (Dm)gray than an y (Gm7)Rus sian play could guar an (Db)tee.

I was a (F)fool (Dm7)to fall and get that (Fmaj7)way;

heigh ho!

A (G7)las!

And al so, luck y (F7)day!

Al though I (Bbdim)can’t (Bb)dis (Gm7)miss the mem ’ry (Fdim)of (F)his (Am7)kiss, I (D7)guess he’s (Gm7)not

(C7)for

(F)me.

(CN.C.)He’s knock ing (F)on a door, but not for (Fmaj7)me.

He’ll plan a (G7)two by four, but not for (F7)me.

I know that (Bbdim)love’s (Bb)a (Gm7)game; I’m puz zled, (Fdim)just (F)the (Dm)same.

Was I the (Gm7)moth or flame?

I’m all at (Db)sea.

It all be (F)gan (Dm7)so well, but what an (Fmaj7)end!

This is the (G7)time a fel ler needs a (F7)friend.

When ev ’ry (Bbdim)hap (Bb)py (Gm7)plot ends with a (Fdim)mar (F)riage (Am7)knot, and (D7)there’s no (Gm7)knot

(C7)for

(F)me.

(CN.C.)He’s knock ing (F)me.

But Not For Me — Visual Piano Sheet Music

46 people have learned this song

"But Not For Me" 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 Bb, 136 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “But Not For Me

Why does "But Not For Me" 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 "But Not For Me".
What key is "But Not For Me" by George Gershwin played in?
But Not For Me is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "But Not For Me"?
The arrangement plays at 136 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "But Not For Me" 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 "But Not For Me"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "But Not For Me"?
"But Not For Me" was originally performed by George Gershwin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by George Gershwin can I play here?
Try "LITTLE JAZZ BIRD", "SWANEE", "WHO CARES?". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this real sheet music for "But Not For Me"?
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 "But Not For Me".
Can I see all the notes in "But Not For Me"?
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 Bb at 136 BPM.

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