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Play Dark Hollow on your own piano
Plug in your piano by USB or Bluetooth. The song waits for you until you hit the right notes. Slow it down, loop any bars, play one hand at a time.
- 1Get the app. Free on the App Store.
- 2Sign in. Use the same email you unlock songs with.
- 3Connect your keyboard. By USB or Bluetooth, and play along.

Dark Hollow — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners
About “Dark Hollow”
Learn "Dark Hollow" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of A, 120 BPM.
12 people have learned this song
Lyrics
I’d rath er be
in (E)some
dark (A)hol low
where the sun
don’t (D)ev
er shine
than to be
home a lone
big (D)know in’ that you’re gone,
would a (A)cause me to (E)lose
my mind.
So, blow
your (E)whis
tle, (A)freight train.
Take me far
on (D)down
the (A)track.
I’m go in’ a way,
I’m (D)leav in’ to day.
I’m (A)go in’ but I (E)ain’t com in’ back.
I’d rath er be
in (E)some
dark (A)hol low
where the sun
don’t (D)ev
er shine
than to be
home in some
big (D)cit y that you’re gone,
in a (A)small room with (E)you
on my
So, blow
your (E)whis
tle, (A)freight train.
Take me far
on (D)down
the (A)track.
I’m go in’ a way,
I’m (D)leav in’ to day.
I’m (A)go in’ but I (E)ain’t com in’ back.
I’d rath er
So,
Practice tip
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Questions about this song (10)
- Can I play "Dark Hollow" without reading sheet music?
- Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Dark Hollow" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
- What key is "Dark Hollow" by Grateful Dead played in?
- Dark Hollow is arranged in the key of A on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Dark Hollow"?
- The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Dark Hollow" 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 "Dark Hollow"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Dark Hollow"?
- "Dark Hollow" was originally performed by Grateful Dead. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Dark Hollow"?
- This arrangement uses 4 chords: A, A9, D, E. Only a handful of chords — beginner-friendly.
- 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.
- Can a complete beginner play "Dark Hollow"?
- Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Dark Hollow" is simplified for beginners.
- Do I need to read music to play "Dark Hollow"?
- No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Dark Hollow" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.
Other versions of Dark Hollow
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