How to Play Shallow on Piano
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
About this piece
Shallow is a beginner-intermediate piano piece by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper that most students can learn in 3-4 weeks.
The Oscar-winning duet from A Star Is Born features a country-influenced verse that builds into a powerful rock chorus. The piano arrangement effectively captures both the intimate opening and the explosive climax.
Practice tips
- The verse uses a fingerpicked-guitar style broken chord in G-D/F#-Em-C — keep the pattern gentle and country-inflected with a slight emphasis on the bass note.
- The 'I'm off the deep end' chorus explodes with full chords — practice the sudden dynamic jump from the quiet verse, dropping your arms into the keys with full weight.
- The Am-D-G-C power progression in the chorus needs a driving rhythm — play the chords slightly ahead of the beat to create urgency and momentum.
Common mistake
Not building enough intensity into the 'tell me something' bridge section — it should gradually rise in volume and tension to set up the chorus explosion.
How long to learn
Not sure Shallow matches your level? Take the free 2-minute piano level quiz to find pieces that fit where you are.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Shallow to play on piano?
Shallow is rated Beginner-Intermediate. The Oscar-winning duet from A Star Is Born features a country-influenced verse that builds into a powerful rock chorus.
How long does it take to learn Shallow?
For a beginner, expect 3-4 weeks. An intermediate player can learn it in 1 week.
What is the BPM of Shallow?
Shallow is typically played at 96 BPM, in G major.
What key is Shallow in?
Shallow is in G major, typically performed at around 96 BPM.
What's the most common mistake when learning Shallow?
Not building enough intensity into the 'tell me something' bridge section — it should gradually rise in volume and tension to set up the chorus explosion.
Where to find the sheet music
- Free scores on IMSLP (Petrucci Music Library)
- Community sheet music on MuseScore
- Wikipedia: Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Free public-domain editions of works like Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy are on IMSLP. For contemporary works, MuseScore has community arrangements.
Ready to practice Shallow?
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