Piano Chords: Let It Be

Here I sit waiting for the arrival of Grandbaby #4...
There is a song that comes to my mind, Let It Be by The Beatles.

If you are a piano player who enjoys reading music notes, you can find free sheet music to 
this song at:
Piano Sheets

 While I was downloading the music, I started reading this short blurb:

"The Beatles were a pop and rock group from Liverpool, England formed in 1960. Primarily consisting of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals) throughout their career, The Beatles are recognised for leading the mid-1960s musical "British Invasion" into the United States. Although their initial musical style was rooted in 1950s rock and roll and homegrown skiffle, the group explored genres ranging from Tin Pan Alley to psychedelic rock. Their clothes, styles, and statements made them trend-setters, while their growing social awareness saw their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s. After the band broke up in 1970, all four members embarked upon solo careers.

The Beatles are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music, selling over a billion records internationally. In the United Kingdom, The Beatles released more than 40 different singles, albums, and EPs that reached number one, earning more number one albums (15) than any other group in UK chart history. This commercial success was repeated in many other countries; their record company, EMI, estimated that by 1985 they had sold over one billion records worldwide. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, The Beatles have sold more albums in the United States than any other band. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Beatles number one on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. According to that same magazine, The Beatles' innovative music and cultural impact helped define the 1960s, and their influence on pop culture is still evident today. In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of top-selling Hot 100 artists to celebrate the chart's fiftieth anniversary; The Beatles reached #1 again."

If you are new to the piano and you are discovering chord progressions in the Key of C, 
this is a great Beatles song to practice with. So have fun!

The Beatles - Let It Be

       C              G                Am          F
When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me
C                   G            F C-Dm7-C
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
                     G            Am                   F
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
C                   G             F  C-Dm7-C
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

       Am         G             F        C
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
                  G              F  C-Dm7-C
whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
whisper words of wisdom, let it be

| F C Dm7 C | F   C   | G F C . | F  C  | G F C . |


Instrumental verse

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
whisper words of wisdom, let it be

| F  C  | G F C . |

Here are the piano chords to the above chord chart:

C Major = CEG 

F Major 2nd inversion = CFA

G Major 1st inversion = BDG

A minor 1st inversion = CEA

Here is the song in the Key of G

intro: G  D  Em  C  G  D  C / / G

          G                     D                Em          C
          When I find myself in times of trouble mother Mary comes to me
          G                 D              C  / / G
          Speaking words of wisdom, let it be,
          G                 D               Em                C
          And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
          G                 D              C  / / G
          Speaking words of wisdom, let it be,

                 Em         D          C          G         
          Let it be, Let it be, Let it be, Let it be
                          D             C     / / G
          Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

          G                     D              Em               C  
          And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
          G             D                 C         
          There will be an answer, let it be  / / G
          G                     D              Em               C
          For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see
          G             D                 C
          There will be an answer, let it be  / / G  
                   Em        D           C         G
           Let it be, Let it be, Let it be, Let it be
                             D            C / / G
          There will be an answer, let it be
                   Em        D           C        G
          Let it be, Let it be, Let it be, Let it be
                             D            C / / G
          Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

          G  D Em  C  G  D C / / G
          Solo:(verse)
                  Em         D          C          G
          Let it be, Let it be, Let it be, Let it be
                            D             C / / G
          Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
           G                      D                       Em          C
          And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me
           G            D       C   /  /    G
          Shine until tomorrow, let it be
          G                  D              Em          C     
          I wake up to the sound of music mother Mary comes to me
            G                  D            C / / G
          Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
                  Em         D         C          G
          Let it be, Let it be, Let it be, Let it be
                             D             C / / G
          There will be an answer, let it be      Em          D          C          G
          Let it be, Let it be, Let it be, Let it be
             /     /    /    D            C / / G
          Whisper words of wisdom, let it be 

I enjoyed hearing this young man play Let It Be. 

Sometimes he sounds like Bruce Hornsby to me.

What do you think?

 And one more video to see where the chords fall with the lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=397Yj3Drj3I&feature=related 

One of the best sites that I would like to share with my readers who are beginners to 

chord progressions, please visit: Analyzing Progressions

Here is the cool chord wheel for starters, so head on over to the site when you have time.

Jim Fleser, Chord Wheel Author

Hope this helps. Next time we chat, hopefully I"ll be holding 

a new grandbaby!

All the best,

-- LadyD

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King