What key is "The Waiting" in?

"The Waiting" by Tom Petty is in the key of D with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "The Waiting" 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 "The Waiting" 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 "The Waiting"?

This arrangement of "The Waiting" uses 6 chords: A, Asus4, Bm, D, F#, G.

How long does it take to learn "The Waiting" on piano?

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

What other songs by Tom Petty can I play here?

Try "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS", "SOUTHERN ACCENTS", "I WON'T BACK DOWN". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

Oh, (A)ba by, don’t it feel a like ple (G)heav en right (D)now?

Don’t it (A)feel like some thing from a (G)dream?

Yeah, (A)I’ve nev er known noth in’ (D)quite me like this.

Don’t it (Bm)feel like to night as might nev er be a gain?

Ba by, (G)we the know ly bet ter than to try and pre tend.

Hon ey, (A)no me one na could a ev er told me ’bout this.

I said, yeah, yeah, (yeah, yeah,) yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

The (G)wait (D)ing is the (A)hard est (D)part.

(G)Ev ’ry (D)day you see (Asus)one more card.

You (G)take it on (D)faith, you (A)take it to the (D)heart.

The (G)wait

ing is the (Asus)hard est (D)part.

Well, (A)yeah, I might have chased a like ple (G)wom en a (D)round.

All it (A)ev er got me was a (G)down.

Yeah, (A)then there were those that in’ (D)quite me feel good, Don’t but (Bm)nev er as night as I’m feel in’ right a now.

Ba by, (G)we the on ly one ter than that’s ev er known how Hon to (A)no me one na live a like I wan na live.

Now I said, yeah, yeah, (yeah, yeah,) yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

The (G)wait (D)ing is the (A)hard est (D)part.

(G)Ev ’ry (D)day you see (Asus)one more yard.

You (G)take it on (D)faith, you (A)take it to the (D)heart.

The (G)wait ing is the (Asus)hard est (D)part.

Well,

Oh, don’t let (A)it kill you, ba by.

Don’t let (A)it get to you.

Don’t let (A)it kill you, ba by.

Don’t let (A)it get to you.

I’ll be your bleed in’ heart.

I’ll be your cry in’ fool.

Don’t let this go too far.

Don’t let it get to you.

Yeah, the (G)wait ing is the (Asus)hard

est

(G)part.

The Waiting by Tom Petty

5 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of D at 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “The Waiting”

What key is "The Waiting" in?: "The Waiting" by Tom Petty is in the key of D with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "The Waiting" 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 "The Waiting" 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 "The Waiting"?: This arrangement of "The Waiting" uses 6 chords: A, Asus4, Bm, D, F#, G.
How long does it take to learn "The Waiting" on piano?: 2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.
What other songs by Tom Petty can I play here?: Try "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS", "SOUTHERN ACCENTS", "I WON'T BACK DOWN". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.