Ripple

by Grateful Dead
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

If my words did glow

with the gold of (F)sun shine,

and my tunes

were played

on the harp

un strung, would you hear my voice

come through the (F)mu sic?

Would you hold

it not near,

(F)as it were your own?

It’s a hand me down,

the thoughts are (F)bro ken.

Per haps

they’re bet ter

the left un (C)sung.

And I don’t know,

don’t real ly (F)care.

low.

(C)Let there be songs

to fill the air.

(Dm)Rip

ple in

still (G7)wa ter,

when there is no peb ble tossed,

nor (D7)wind to blow.

Reach out your hand

if your cup be (F)emp ty.

If your cup

is full,

may it be

a gain.

Let it hear be known,

there is a (F)foun tain

you hold

was not made

(F)by the hands of men.

There a is a road,

no sim ple (F)high way,

be tween

the dawn ter

the dark of (C)night.

And if you go,

no one may (F)fol low.

(C)That path is for

your steps a lone.

(Dm)Rip

ple in

still (G7)wa ter,

when there is no peb ble tossed,

nor (D7)wind to blow.

Reach out your hand

You who choose

to lead must (F)fol low,

but if

you fall, you fall a lone.

If you should stand,

then who’s to (F)guide you?

(C)If I knew the (G)way,

(F)I would take you (C)home.

La dee da da da,

la da da (F)da da,

da da

da da da da da da.

La da da da,

da da da (F)da da.

(C)Da I da da (G)da,

(F)la da da da (C)home.

La dee da da da, (C)da.

Ripple — Classic Piano Sheet Music

11 people have learned this song

Read "Ripple" by Grateful Dead in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of C. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 120 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Ripple”

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Ripple"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature C. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Ripple" by Grateful Dead played in?
Ripple is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Ripple"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Ripple" 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 "Ripple"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Ripple"?
"Ripple" was originally performed by Grateful Dead. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Grateful Dead can I play here?
Try "UNCLE JOHN'S BAND", "THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED", "SUGAR MAGNOLIA". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Ripple" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature C, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 120 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.