Other arrangements of Cruel To Be Kind
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Oh, I can’t take an oth er heart ache.
Though you (F)say you’re my friend, and I’m at my wits’ end.
You say your love is bo na fide, but that don’t co in cide down with the things that you do.
And when I ask you to be nice,
you say, “You got ta be (F)cruel to be (G)kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
Well, I do my best to un der stand, dear, but you (F)still mys ti fy, and I wan na know why.
I pick my self up off the ground to have you knock me back down with a gain and a gain.
And when I ask you to ex plain,
you say, “You got ta be (F)cruel to be (G)kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
Well, I do
Well, I (C)do my best to un der stand, dear, but you (F)still mys ti fy, and I wan na know why.
I pick my self up off the ground to have you knock me (Em)back down a gain and a gain.
And when I ask you to ex plain,
you say, “You got ta be (G)cruel to kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
(G)cruel to kind in the right (Am)meas ure.” (F)Cruel to be (G)kind; it’s a (Em)ver y good sign if (F)“cruel to be (G)kind” means that I (Am)love you, (Dm7)ba by.
You (G)got ta be cruel to be kind.
Cruel To Be Kind — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial
2 people have learned this song
Watch "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of C, 132 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Try other practice modes:
About “Cruel To Be Kind”
- Can I learn "Cruel To Be Kind" with falling notes like Synthesia?
- Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "Cruel To Be Kind" with hands-separate practice in C at 132 BPM.
- What key is "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe played in?
- Cruel To Be Kind is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- The arrangement plays at 132 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Cruel To Be Kind" 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 "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- "Cruel To Be Kind" was originally performed by Nick Lowe. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- This arrangement uses 10 chords: A, A7, Am, C, Dm, Dm7, Em, F, +2 more.
- Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "Cruel To Be Kind" one hand at a time before combining them.
- What is falling notes style for "Cruel To Be Kind"?
- Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "Cruel To Be Kind" is in the key of C at 132 BPM.
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