Other arrangements of If I Knew
Pick a learning view.
Oh, oh, oh, (Eb)I,
I was a (Bb)cit y boy;
to ride in to (Ab)dan gers where I’d al ways run, a (Abm)boy who had his fun.
I would n’t have (Eb)done
(Cm7)all the things that (Fm7)I have done
if I (Bb)knew one (Eb)day you’d come.
(Ab)No, ba by (Abm)(no, ba by), (Eb)no, ba by (no, ba by).
(Bb)Oh, oh, oh, (Eb)I,
I know it (Bb)breaks your heart
to pic ture the (Ab)on ly one you want and love in (Abm)some one else ’s arms.
I would n’t have (Eb)done
(Cm7)all the things that (Fm7)I have done
if I (Bb)knew one (Eb)day you’d come.
(Ab)No, ba by (Abm)(no, ba by), (Eb)no, ba by (no, ba by).
(Bb)Oh, oh, oh,
(F)Oh, ba (F#)by, (G)please,
let’s leave the past be (Cm)hind us, be hind us, (F)so (F#)that (G)we
can go where love will (Cm)find us, yeah, will find us.
(G)I (Gb)know (F)mon sters will leave me, but (Gm)I (Ab)know that you’ll be (Bb)lieve me.
Ba by, (Eb)I,
I wish we were (Bb)sev en teen
so I could (Ab)give you all the in no cence
that you give to me.
Oh, I would n’t have (Eb)done
all the things (Fm7)that I’ve done
if I (Bb)knew
one (Eb)day you’d come,
if I knew one day (Eb)you’d come.
If I Knew — Simple Sheet Music
23 people have learned this song
"If I Knew" in simplified sheet music format — the bridge between beginner modes and real sheet music. Color-coded notes with lyrics scrolling horizontally. Perfect for learning to read music. Key of Ab, 87 BPM.
This arrangement is a wonderful workout for smooth chord transitions in A♭ major, and at 87 BPM you have just enough breathing room to nail each change — but not enough to fake your way through sloppy hand shifts.
Your left hand follows an octave bass pattern, so lock that in first: practice it alone until the jumps between A♭, E♭, and the chromatic moves toward F♯ and G♭ feel automatic.
The real challenge lives in your right hand navigating thirteen chords, especially the shifts between C minor and its C minor 7 voicing and the momentary detour into A♭ minor — those color changes demand precise finger placement without hesitation.
I'd suggest looping the trickiest four-bar sections at around 60 BPM, hands separate, then gradually bring them together before pushing toward full tempo.
Watch your pedal work carefully; in a ballad this exposed, holding the sustain pedal through chord changes will blur everything into mud, so practice clean pedal swaps on every chord root change.
Once this clicks, you'll have real confidence handling chromatic bass movement and extended chord shapes in any pop ballad you tackle next.
Try other practice modes:
About “If I Knew”
- How does Simplified Piano Arrangement differ from full sheet music for "If I Knew"?
- Simplified Arrangement keeps the melody and chords on a simplified staff with lyrics, color-coded for easy recognition. It's a learner-bridge between Beginner mode and the classic engraved Sheet Music — same song, less visual density.
- What key is "If I Knew" by Bruno Mars played in?
- If I Knew is arranged in the key of Ab on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "If I Knew"?
- The arrangement plays at 87 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "If I Knew" 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 "If I Knew"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "If I Knew"?
- "If I Knew" was originally performed by Bruno Mars. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "If I Knew"?
- This arrangement uses 13 chords: Ab, Abm, Bb, Cm, Cm7, Eb, Eb7, F, +5 more.
- What other songs by Bruno Mars can I play here?
- Try "VERSACE ON THE FLOOR", "JUST THE WAY YOU ARE", "THAT'S WHAT I LIKE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is Simple Sheet good for learning to read sheet music?
- Yes! Simple Sheet bridges the gap between beginner color-coded modes and traditional notation. Notes are displayed on a simplified staff with colors, lyrics, and chords — helping you build music reading skills gradually while still enjoying "If I Knew". Key of Ab, 87 BPM.
- What's the difference between Simple Sheet and Lead Sheet?
- Simple Sheet shows a more streamlined, horizontally scrolling view with color-coded notes on a staff and lyrics below — like a simplified version of real sheet music. Lead Sheet shows melody with chord symbols above and full lyrics. Simple Sheet is the next step toward reading traditional notation.