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 — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial
9 people have learned this song
Watch "Hard Times" by Ray Charles 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 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”
- Can I learn "Hard Times" 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 "Hard Times" with hands-separate practice in F at 80 BPM.
- 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.
- Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Hard Times"?
- 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 "Hard Times" one hand at a time before combining them.
- What is falling notes style for "Hard Times"?
- 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. "Hard Times" is in the key of F at 80 BPM.