Other arrangements of Hard Times
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(CN.C.)My moth er (Bb7)told me
’fore she passed a way,
said, “Son, when I’m gone, ey
don’t for get to (Cm7)pray, (Bdim)’cause there’ll be (Bdim7)hard times,
hard (D)times.
(Db)Who (C)knows (Bb)bet ter than (C7)I?”
Well, I soon found out
just what she meant
when I had to pawn my clothes row
just to pay the (Cm7)rent.
(B)Talk in’ ’bout (Bdim7)hard times,
hard (D)times.
(Db)Who (C)knows (Bb)bet ter than (F)I?
(CN.C.)I had a (Bb7)wom an
who was al ways ’round,
but when lost my mon ey
then she put me (Cm7)down.
(Bdim)Talk in’ ’bout (Bdim7)hard times,
hard (D)times.
(Db)Who (C)knows (Bb)bet ter than (C7)I?
Yeah, I soon oh, yeah,
one of these days
there’ll I be to no more sor row
when I pass a (Cm7)way.
(B)Then no more (Bdim7)hard times,
hard (D)times.
(Db)Who (C)knows (Bb)bet ter than (F)I?
(CN.C.)I had a (Bdim7)I?
Hard Times — Piano Lead Sheet
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"Hard Times" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of F, 80 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “Hard Times”
- Where are the chord symbols for "Hard Times" displayed?
- Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "Hard Times" is in F.
- What key is "Hard Times" by Ray Charles played in?
- Hard Times is arranged in the key of F on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Hard Times"?
- The arrangement plays at 80 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Hard Times" 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 "Hard Times"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Hard Times"?
- "Hard Times" was originally performed by Ray Charles. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What other songs by Ray Charles can I play here?
- Try "I GOT A WOMAN", "GEORGIA ON MY MIND", "YOU DON'T KNOW ME". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Does "Hard Times" have chords and lyrics?
- Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "Hard Times" is in the key of F at 80 BPM.
- What chords are in "Hard Times"?
- Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of F, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.