What key is "Stay Alive" in?

"Stay Alive" by Jose Gonzalez is in the key of G with a tempo of 66 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "Stay Alive" 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 "Stay Alive" 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 "Stay Alive"?

This arrangement of "Stay Alive" uses 14 chords: A7, Am, Amin, C, C6, Cmaj, Cmaj9, D, +6 more.

How long does it take to learn "Stay Alive" on piano?

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

Lyrics

(G)There is a rhy thm and (D)rush these (Em)days

where the lines don’t move and the (D)col ors don’t (C)fade.

(G)Leaves you emp ty, with (D)noth ing but (Em)dreams,

in a world gone shal low, in a (D)world gone (C)mean.

(G)Some times there’s things a man can not (Em)know;

the gears won’t turn and the (D)leaves won’t (C)grow;

there’s (G)no place to run and no gas o (Em)line;

en gine won’t turn and the (D)train won’t (C)leave,

(Em7)en gines won’t turn and the (D)train won’t (C)leave.

(G)I will stay with you to (C)night,

(D)hold you close ’til the (Em)morn ing (Am11)light.

In the (G)morn ing, watch the new day rise.

We (D)do what ev er just to (Em7)stay a (Am11)live,

we (D)do what ev er just to (Em)stay a (C)live.

Well, the (G)way I feel is the way I ride,

(Em7)rac ing like the thoughts of a (D)man who (C)lies;

but (G)there is a truth, and it’s on our side:

(Em7)dawn is com ing; (D)o pen your (C)eyes.

(Em11)Look in to the sun as the (D)new days (C)rise.

And (G)I will (Am)wait for (G)you to (C)night.

You’re (D)here for ev er and you’re (Em7)by my (A7sus)side.

(G)I’ve been wait ing all my life.

I can (D)feel your heart as it’s (Em7)keep ing (Am11)time.

We (D)do what ev er just to (Em7)stay a (C6/9)live.

(G5)Dawn is com ing; (Dsus)o pen your eyes.

(G5)Look in to the sun (G5)as the (Dsus)new days (Em7)rise.

(G)There is a rhy thm and (D)rush these (Em7)days

where the lines don’t move and the (D)col ors don’t (C)fade.

(G)Leaves you emp ty, with (D)noth ing but (Em7)dreams,

in a world gone shal low, in a (D)world gone (C)mean.

(G)There is a truth, and it’s on our side.

Dawn is com ing; (D)o pen your (C)eyes.

(Em)Look in to the sun as the (D)new days (C)rise.

Stay Alive by Jose Gonzalez

153 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 66 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a wonderful exercise in sustaining a melancholic, quiet intensity — the 66 BPM tempo feels slow until you realize your left hand needs to voice fourteen distinct chord shapes cleanly, including some stretchy ones like Cmaj9 and Dsus4 that demand careful finger placement.

Start hands-separate: get your left hand comfortable moving between Em7, Cmaj9, and C6 shapes before adding the right-hand melody, because those extended chords will fall apart if you're rushing to find them.

Watch the A7-to-Am transition especially — the voicing shift is small but easy to fumble if your thumb isn't anchored.

Use light sustain pedal to connect the ballad phrasing, but lift cleanly on each chord change so the extensions don't blur into mud.

Loop the trickiest four-bar phrases at half tempo until the shapes feel automatic, then bring it up to speed.

This is the piece that will genuinely build your confidence with color chords beyond basic triads — once Cmaj9 sits naturally under your hand, you'll reach for it in everything you play.

About “Stay Alive”

What key is "Stay Alive" in?: "Stay Alive" by Jose Gonzalez is in the key of G with a tempo of 66 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "Stay Alive" 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 "Stay Alive" 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 "Stay Alive"?: This arrangement of "Stay Alive" uses 14 chords: A7, Am, Amin, C, C6, Cmaj, Cmaj9, D, +6 more.
How long does it take to learn "Stay Alive" on piano?: 2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.