Other arrangements of Roots Before Branches
Pick a learning view.
(A)Hey,
yeah, hey.
So (F#m)man y things to do and (F#m7)say
but (F#m)I can’t seem to find my (F#m7)way, but I (Dsus2)wan na know how.
I (F#m)know I’m meant for some thing (F#m7)else,
but (F#m)first I’ve got to find my (F#m7)self, but I my (Dsus2)don’t on know how.
There’s al ways Oh, a (Bm)why do I reach for the stars
when I don’t have (D)wings
to car ry me that far?
Got ta have (Dmaj7)roots
be fore (F#m)branch es,
to (Dmaj7)know who I am be fore I (A)know who I (E)wan na be.
And (Dmaj7)faith
to take (F#m)chanc es
to (Dmaj7)live like I see
a (Bm)place in this (E)world
for me.
(F#m)Ooh.
Hey.
(F#m)Some times I don’t wan na (F#m7)feel
but (F#m)and for get the pain is (F#m7)real; put my (Dsus2)head in the clouds.
I (F#m)start to run and then I (F#m7)fall,
but (F#m)think ing I can’t get it (F#m7)all with out my (Dsus2)feet on the ground.
There’s al ways Oh, a (Bm)seed do be fore there’s a rose.
The more that it (D)rains,
the more ry I will grow.
Got ta have (Dmaj7)roots
be fore (F#m)branch es,
to (Dmaj7)know who I am be fore I (A)know who I (E)wan na be.
And (Dmaj7)faith
to take (F#m)chanc es
to (Dmaj7)live like I see
a (Bm)place in this (E)world
for me.
(F#m)Ooh.
Hey.
(Bm)place in this (E)world
for me.
(F#m)Oh.
What ev er comes, I know how to (E)take it, learn to be strong; I won’t have to (B)fake it.
Oh, you’re un der (F#)stand ing.
Oh,
but we can come and do what’s best, roam in north and south, east and west,
but I’ll
(B)still be stand (E)ing.
(F#m)I’m stand (E)ing, if I have (Dmaj7)roots
be fore (F#m)branch es,
to (Dmaj7)know who I am be fore I (A)know who I’m (E)gon na be.
And (Dmaj7)faith,
oh, to take (F#m)chanc es
to (Dmaj7)live like I see
a (Bm)place in this (E)world...
(Bm)place in this (E)world
for (F#m)me.
Oh.
I’ve got to have (F#m)roots
be fore (A)branch es.
(F#m)Oh,
(E)yeah.
Roots Before Branches — Classic Piano Sheet Music
1 person has learned this song
Read "Roots Before Branches" by Glee Cast in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of A. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 60 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Try other practice modes:
About “Roots Before Branches”
- Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Roots Before Branches"?
- 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 A. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
- What key is "Roots Before Branches" by Glee Cast played in?
- Roots Before Branches is arranged in the key of A on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Roots Before Branches"?
- The arrangement plays at 60 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Roots Before Branches" 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 "Roots Before Branches"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Roots Before Branches"?
- "Roots Before Branches" was originally performed by Glee Cast. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Roots Before Branches"?
- This arrangement uses 11 chords: A, B, Bm, Bsus4, D, Dmaj7, Dsus2, E, +3 more.
- What other songs by Glee Cast can I play here?
- Try "ABC", "YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT", "THE TIME OF MY LIFE". 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 — "Roots Before Branches" 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 A, 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 60 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.