Other arrangements of Tough Little Boys
Pick a learning view.
(D)I nev er once backed as (Dmaj7)down from a punch,
well, (D7)I’d take it square on the chin.
Well, (Gm)I found out fast
a (Bm)bul ly’s just that.
can (Em7)You’ve got to stand up to him.
So, (D)I did n’t cry when I (Dmaj7)got a black eye.
As (D7)bad as it hurt, I just (G)grinned.
But when (Gm)tough lit tle boys
grow (D)up to be dads, (D)they turn (Em7)in to big ba bies a gain.
Well, (Bm)Scared me to death
when you (G)took your first steps.
Well, I’d (D)fall ev ’ry time you fell (D)down.
And your (Bm)first day of school
I (G)cried like a fool and I (Em7)fol lowed your school bus to town.
Well, (D)I did n’t cry
when (Dmaj7)Old Yel ler died,
at (D7)least not in front of my (G)friends.
But when (Gm)tough lit tle boys grow (D)up to be dads, (D)they turn in to big ba bies a gain.
Well, (D)I’m a grown man, but as (Dmaj7)strong as I am,
well, (D7)some times it’s hard to be lieve
how (Gm)one lit tle girl
with (Bm)lit tle blonde curls can (Em7)to tal ly ter ri fy me.
If (D)you were to ask, my I (Dmaj7)wife would just laugh,
she’d (D7)say an old law a bout (G)men
and how (Gm)tough lit tle boys grow (D)up to be dads, (D)they turn (Em7)in to big ba bies a gain.
Well, (Bm)I know one day I’ll you (G)give you a way Well, and (D)I’m gon na stand there and (D)smile.
And But (Bm)when I get home and (G)I’m all a lone, well, I’ll (Em7)sit in your room for a while.
Well, (D)I did n’t cry
when (Dmaj7)Old Yel ler died,
at (D7)least not in front of my (G)friends.
But when (Gm)tough lit tle boys grow (D)up to be dads, (D)they turn in to big ba bies a gain.
Well,
When (G)tough lit tle boys grow (D)up to be dads,
they turn (Em9)in to big ba bies a (D)gain.
Tough Little Boys — Visual Piano Sheet Music
"Tough Little Boys" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of D, 100 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 “Tough Little Boys”
- Why does "Tough Little Boys" show as colored bars instead of notation?
- Bar Notation replaces traditional noteheads with colored horizontal bars on a simplified staff — each bar's vertical position is the pitch and its length is the duration. Much easier to read than classic sheet music while still showing the full arrangement of "Tough Little Boys".
- What key is "Tough Little Boys" by Gary Allan played in?
- Tough Little Boys is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Tough Little Boys"?
- The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Tough Little Boys" 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 "Tough Little Boys"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Tough Little Boys"?
- "Tough Little Boys" was originally performed by Gary Allan. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Tough Little Boys"?
- This arrangement uses 12 chords: A, A7, Bm, D, D7, Dmaj7, Em7, Em9, +4 more.
- What other songs by Gary Allan can I play here?
- Try "EVERY STORM", "LIFE AIN'T ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL", "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is this real sheet music for "Tough Little Boys"?
- It's a simplified visual notation using colored bars instead of traditional notes. Each bar's vertical position shows the pitch and its length shows duration — much easier to read for beginners while still showing the complete arrangement of "Tough Little Boys".
- Can I see all the notes in "Tough Little Boys"?
- Yes! The Bar Sheet shows every note in the arrangement as a colored bar. The sheet scrolls automatically during playback, or you can scroll manually to study any section. The song is in the key of D at 100 BPM.
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