What key is "I Gotta Try" in?

"I Gotta Try" by Michael McDonald is in the key of D with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "I Gotta Try" easy to play on piano?

This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.

Can I play "I Gotta Try" without reading sheet music?

Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.

What chords are used in "I Gotta Try"?

This arrangement of "I Gotta Try" uses 23 chords: Am7, B7, Bb, Bbmaj9, C, D, D7, Dm, +15 more.

How long does it take to learn "I Gotta Try" on piano?

2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.

What other songs by Michael McDonald can I play here?

Try "REFLECTIONS", "I BELIEVE", "FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

(G6)May be it’s (D)true what they say a bout it.

(G6)May be we (D)can’t make the ends to meet.

(G6)May be we’ll (D)all have to do with out it.

(G6)May be this (D)world’s just to in com plete.

Well, (C)we (Bbmaj9)all tined (Am7)look look for truth in this (Dno3d)life, (Bbmaj9)search (Am7)ing

(C)with hope less (D)sight.

If it’s (Bbmaj9)so hard (Am7)liv ing in a des p’rate (D)world,

we (Gm7)all (Fsus2)do the (Bb)best that we (G)can.

(Dm7)Some (C)peo ple (F)see (Gm7)a (F)change,

(Gm7)some (C)will re (C)main (Dm7)the same.

(Dm7)Oth (C)ers will (F)live (Gm7)their (F)lives

(Gm7)un (C)der the (C)gun.

(Dm7)Some (C)see the (F)road (Gm7)as (F)clear,

(Gm7)some (C)say the (C)end (Dm7)is here.

They say (C)it’s a (F)hope (Ebmaj7)less (C)fight, (Dm7)but (C)I (Bb)say (G)I got ta (D)try!

(G6)May be it’s (D)too much to think a bout.

it.

(G6)May be there (D)ain’t noth ing left to say.

(G6)But if our (D)time’s real ly run nin’ out, it.

(G6)then this ain’t (D)no time to run a way.

’Cause (C)we’re (Bbmaj9)des tined (Am7)to look for truth in this (Dno3d)life,

(Bbmaj9)search (Am7)ing (C)with tear ful (D)eyes.

If it’s (Bbmaj9)so hard (Am7)liv ing in a des p’rate (D)world, then (Gm7)tell (Fsus2)me, the (Bb)why was I (G)born?

(Dm7)Some (C)peo ple (F)see (Gm7)a (F)change,

(Gm7)some (C)will re (C)main (Dm7)the same.

(Dm7)Oth (C)ers will (F)live (Gm7)their (F)lives

(Gm7)un (C)der the (C)gun.

(Dm7)Some (C)see the (F)road (Gm7)as (F)clear,

(Gm7)some (C)say the (C)end (Dm7)is here.

They say (C)it’s a (F)hope (Ebmaj7)less (C)fight, (Dm7)but (C)I (Bb)say (G)I got ta (D)try!

(G6)May be it’s (D)too

(Gm11)Lone

(Am7)ly,

liv in’ so (Eb)lone

(F7sus)ly,

it ain’t (Bbmaj9)too late to (Am7)turn it all a (Dsus)round.

(Dm)Some (C)peo ple (F)see (Gm7)a (F)change,

(Gm7)some (C)will re (C)main (Dm7)the same.

(Dm7)Oth (C)ers will (F)live (Gm7)their (F)lives

(Gm7)un (C)der the (C)gun.

(Em7)Some (D)say (G)the road (Am7)is (G)clear,

(Am7)some (D)say the (D)end (Em7)is (D)here.

They say (D)it’s a (G)hope (Fmaj7)less (D)fight, (Em7)but (D)I (C)say (B)I got ta (G)try (Am7)and (G)change,

though oth (D)ers re (D)main (Em7)the (D)same.

(Em7)Some (D)of us (G)live (Am7)our (G)lives

(Am7)un (D)der the (D)gun.

(Em7)Some (D)say the (G)road (Am7)is (G)clear,

(Am7)some (D)say the (D)end (Em7)is (D)here.

They say (D)it’s a (G)hope (Fmaj7)less (D)fight, (Em7)but (D)I (C)say (B)I got ta (G)try (Am7)and (G)change,

though oth (D)ers re (D)main (Em7)the (D)same.

(Em7)Some (D)of us (G)live (Am7)our (G)lives

(Am7)un (D)der the (D)gun.

(Em7)Some (D)say the (G)road

I Gotta Try by Michael McDonald

2 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of D at 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “I Gotta Try”

What key is "I Gotta Try" in?: "I Gotta Try" by Michael McDonald is in the key of D with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "I Gotta Try" easy to play on piano?: This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.
Can I play "I Gotta Try" without reading sheet music?: Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
What chords are used in "I Gotta Try"?: This arrangement of "I Gotta Try" uses 23 chords: Am7, B7, Bb, Bbmaj9, C, D, D7, Dm, +15 more.
How long does it take to learn "I Gotta Try" on piano?: 2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.
What other songs by Michael McDonald can I play here?: Try "REFLECTIONS", "I BELIEVE", "FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.