Charlene — Beginner Piano Tutorial

Learn "Charlene" on piano — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded notes show you exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of Ab, 62 BPM.

Tip: Break this song into sections and master each one separately. The speed control lets you drill difficult passages at any tempo.

Lyrics

Woke up this morn in’, found a (Dm7)let ter that she (Gm7)wrote. She said she’s tired that I’m al ways on the road. Too hard to swal low, (Bb)be ing (Gm7)a lone. She needs some one at night that she can hold. She must ’ve told me a (Bb)thou sand times be (Gm7)fore. Si lent cries I used to ig nore. God knows I love her. (Abmaj7)Did n’t (Gm7)mean (Ab)to (Gm7)hurt her. Ba by, I’ll (Cm7)be (Dm7)sitt in’ here (Gm7)wait in’ on (Fm7)you to come home a gain. I won’t (Cm7)leave, (Bb)prom ise I will (Gm7)be here (Fm7)to the ver y end. By your (Cm7)side to pro (Bb)tect you and to (Gm7)love you and to (Fm7)be with you for life. Come on (Ab)home to (Abmaj7)me (Gm7)Char lene. She knows I real ly love (Dm7)this ol’ mus (Gm7)ic thing. Since I was a child, it’s been my dream. I can’t sup port her, (Bb)treat her and (Gm7)spoil her. You know, buy her the fin er things. But I for got a bout (Bb)lov in’ her. Damn the mon ey, dia monds and furs. What a bout the hard days she (Abmaj7)had (Gm7)with (Ab)the (Gm7)ba by? All she need is for me to love by, I’ll her. (Gm7)be sitt in’ here wait in’ on lene. Woah, pro mise I can’t live with out her. God knows I need her lov in’. And it hurts so (G)bad that she’s (C)gone a way, oh. I hope and pray she’ll (Fm7)come back one day in my (Abmaj7)life, oh. Ba by, I’ll (Cm7)be (Dm7)sitt in’ here (Gm7)wait in’ on (Fm7)you to come home a gain. I won’t (Cm7)leave. (Bb)Pro mise I will (Gm7)be here (Fm7)to the ver y end. By your (Cm7)side to pro (Bb)tect you and to (Gm7)love you and to (Fm7)be with you for life. Come on (Ab)home to (Abmaj7)me (Gm7)Char lene.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple Sheet

Song Details

Category
R&B/Soul
Key
Ab
Tempo
62 BPM
Difficulty
hard

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How to Play "Charlene" on Piano

  1. 1
    Pick a practice mode — Choose from Fall Down, Beginner, Lead Sheet, Bar Sheet, or Simple Sheet — each mode visualizes the music differently to match your learning style.
  2. 2
    Practice each hand separately — Use the Left, Right, and Both buttons to isolate the bass or treble part and build muscle memory one hand at a time.
  3. 3
    Adjust speed and turn on metronome — Slow down to 50% while learning, then gradually speed up. Enable the metronome to keep steady timing.
  4. 4
    Loop a section — Select a tricky part and loop it until you nail it. Perfect for mastering difficult passages.
  5. 5
    Download sheet music — Export a PDF of the sheet music to print out and practice on your real piano anytime, anywhere.