What's Going On

by Marvin Gaye
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Other arrangements of What's Going On

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Sheet MusicBar NotationSimple SheetLead SheetKaraoke · LyricsEasy NotesFalling Notes
Lyrics

(Cmaj7)Moth er, moth er,

there’s too man y (Am7)of you cry ing.

You see (Cmaj7)Broth er, broth er, broth er,

there’s far too man y (Am7)of you dy ing.

You know we’ve (Dm7)got to find a way

to to bring some (Dm7)lov in’ here to day, yeah.

(Cmaj7)Fa ther, fa ther,

we don’t need to (Am7)es ca late.

ing.

Ah, but (Cmaj7)war is not the an swer,

for on ly love can (Am7)con quer hate.

ing.

You know we’ve (Dm7)got to find a way

to to bring some (Dm7)lov in’ here to day,

yeah.

(Dm7)lov in’ here to day, oh.

(Dm7)Pick et lines

and (Dm7)pick et signs

don’t (Dm7)pun ish me

with bru (Dm7)tal i ty.

(Dm7)Talk to me

so (Dm7)you can see, oh, what’s (Cmaj7)go ing on,

what’s (Am7)go ing on, yeah, what’s (Cmaj7)go ing on, oh, what’s (Am7)go ing on.

Ah, ah, (Fm9)ah, ah, ah.

I, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, ya, ya, ya, ya.

I, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya.

Be, doot, de doot; Be, be, be, doot; Be be, be, doot; Bu, doot, be, be, be, doot; Be be, be, be, be, doot.

Be, be, be, be, be, doot.

What's Going On — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

14 people have learned this song

Learn "What's Going On" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of C, 100 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple SheetKaraoke

About “What's Going On”

Can I play "What's Going On" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "What's Going On" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye played in?
What's Going On is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "What's Going On"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "What's Going On" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "What's Going On"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "What's Going On"?
"What's Going On" was originally performed by Marvin Gaye. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Marvin Gaye can I play here?
Try "LET'S GET IT ON", "I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE", "GOT TO GIVE IT UP". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "What's Going On"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "What's Going On" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "What's Going On"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "What's Going On" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.