Sunny Afternoon

by The Kinks
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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 — Classic Piano Sheet Music

6 people have learned this song

Read "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of Bb. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 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

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Sunny Afternoon"?
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 Bb. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks played in?
Sunny Afternoon is arranged in the key of Bb 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 this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Sunny Afternoon" 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 Bb, 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 130 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.

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