Sunny Afternoon

by The Kinks
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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

The (Dm)tax man’s tak en all my dough, and (F)left me in my (C)state ly home: (A7)laz ing on a sun ny af ter noon.

And I can’t sail my yacht, he’s (F)ta ken ev ’ry (C)thing I’ve got, (A7)all I’ve got’s this sun ny af ter noon.

(D)Save me, save me, save me from this (G)squeeze,

I’ve got a (C)big, fat mom ma tryin’ to break (F)me.

And I (Dm)love to live so (G)plea sant ly, (Dm)live this life of lu xu ry: (F)laz ing on a (A7)sun ny af ter noon.

In sum mer time,

in (Dm)sum mer time,

in sum mer time.

Sunny Afternoon — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

16 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of F, 130 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a great way to build real confidence with the Alberti bass pattern — your left hand will be rolling broken chords steadily underneath a playful melody, and that's the core skill to nail first.

Start hands-separate at around 80 BPM, focusing on keeping your left hand smooth and even through each chord change before you bring it up to 130.

The move from A7 to Dm is the transition to watch: that C♯ in the A7 resolving down to D needs to feel automatic, so loop just those two bars until your fingers know the way.

The chord set stays in a comfortable range, but don't let that lull you into rushing — the easy-listening groove only works when your Alberti pattern is relaxed and steady, not tight.

Use light pedal on chord changes to keep things connected without getting muddy.

Once this feels natural, you'll have an Alberti bass you can trust in dozens of other songs.

About “Sunny Afternoon”

What key is "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks played in?
Sunny Afternoon is arranged in the key of F on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Sunny Afternoon"?
The arrangement plays at 130 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Sunny Afternoon" 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 "Sunny Afternoon"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Sunny Afternoon"?
"Sunny Afternoon" was originally performed by The Kinks. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Sunny Afternoon"?
This arrangement uses 6 chords: A7, C, D, Dm, F, G.
What other songs by The Kinks can I play here?
Try "LOLA", "COME DANCING", "ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Sunny Afternoon" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Sunny Afternoon" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in F, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Sunny Afternoon" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.