Rather Be

by Clean Bandit
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Lyrics

We’re a (Bm)thou sand (F#m)miles from com fort.

We have (Bm)travel led (F#m)land and sea.

But as (Bm)long as (F#)you are with me,

there’s (G)no place I’d (Em7)ra ther be.

(Bm)I would (F#m)wait for ev er,

ex (Bm)ult ed (F#m)in the scene.

As (Bm)long as (F#m)I am with you,

(G)my heart con (Em7)tin ues to beat.

With ev ’ry step we take, Ky o to to the Bay.

(Bm)Stroll ing so ca sual ly.

We’re diff ’rent and the same, get you an oth er name.

(Bm)Switch up the bat ter ies.

(Bm)If you gave me a chance I would (D)take (A)it.

(Bm)It’s a shot in the dark but I’ll (D)make (A)it.

(Bm)Know with all of your heart you can’t (D)shame (A)me.

(Em7)When I am with you there’s (G)no place I’d ra ther be.

N, n, no, no, no.

No place I’d (A#dim7)ra ther be.

N, n, no, no, no.

No place I’d ra ther (A#dim7)be.

N, n, no, no, no.

No place I’d ra ther (A)be.

(Em7)When I am with you there’s (G)no place I’d ra ther be.

Rather Be — Visual Piano Sheet Music

7 people have learned this song

"Rather Be" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of D, 120 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a great way to build confidence with your left-hand oompah bass pattern — that's a low root note followed by a higher chord chunk, alternating steadily at 120 BPM.

It feels like a heartbeat once it clicks, but start hands-separate and slower (around 80 BPM) until the bounce is automatic.

Your right hand carries a pretty straightforward melody in D major, so the real challenge is coordination between the two hands.

Watch out for the A#dim7 chord — it's the only truly unusual shape in the set and it'll pop up as a passing chord between A and Bm.

Finger it slowly a few times in isolation so it doesn't surprise you mid-phrase.

The F#m to G to A progression comes back often, so loop that section until the transitions feel smooth under your fingers without looking down.

Once your left hand can keep that oompah pulse steady through chord changes, you've built a skill that transfers to dozens of pop songs.

This one's worth the patience.

About “Rather Be

Why does "Rather Be" show as colored bars instead of notation?
Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Rather Be".
What key is "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit played in?
Rather Be is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Rather Be"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Rather Be" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "Rather Be"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Rather Be"?
"Rather Be" was originally performed by Clean Bandit. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Rather Be"?
This arrangement uses 10 chords: A, A#dim7, Bm, Bm7, D, Em7, F#, F#m, +2 more.
What other songs by Clean Bandit can I play here?
Try "Real Love", "Rockabye", "Tears". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this real sheet music for "Rather Be"?
It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Rather Be".
Can I see all the notes in "Rather Be"?
Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of D at 120 BPM.

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