Gary Jules (Tears For Fears) - Mad World
Hello! Below you'll find my "Mad World" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This haunting song was written by Tears For Fears, though I based my arrangement on the Gary Jules version featured in Donnie Darko. I think you'll have fun playing this simple but effective piano part.
Enjoy!
Mad World Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Mad World:
Mad World Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
Fm Bb X2
Fm Bb X2
[Verse 1]
Fm Ab
All around me are familiar faces
Eb Bb
Worn out places, worn out faces
Fm Ab
Bright and early for their daily races
Eb Bb
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Fm Ab
Their tears are filling up their glasses
Eb Bb
No expression, no expression
Fm Ab
Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
Eb Bb
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
Fm Ab
All around me are familiar faces
Eb Bb
Worn out places, worn out faces
Fm Ab
Bright and early for their daily races
Eb Bb
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Fm Ab
Their tears are filling up their glasses
Eb Bb
No expression, no expression
Fm Ab
Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
Eb Bb
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
[Chorus]
Fm Bb Fm
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
Bb Fm
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
Bb Fm
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
Bb
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb Fm
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
Bb Fm
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
Bb Fm
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
Bb
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb
Mad world
[Verse 2]
Fm Ab
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Eb Bb
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Fm Ab
And I feel the way that every child should
Eb Bb
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Fm Ab
Went to school, and I was very nervous
Eb Bb
No one knew me, no one knew me
Fm Ab
Hello, teacher, tell me what's my lesson
Eb Bb
Look right through me, look right through me
Fm Ab
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Eb Bb
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Fm Ab
And I feel the way that every child should
Eb Bb
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Fm Ab
Went to school, and I was very nervous
Eb Bb
No one knew me, no one knew me
Fm Ab
Hello, teacher, tell me what's my lesson
Eb Bb
Look right through me, look right through me
[Chorus]
Fm Bb Fm
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
Bb Fm
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
Bb Fm
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
Bb
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb
Enlarging your world
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb Fm
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
Bb Fm
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
Bb Fm
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
Bb
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb
Mad world
Fm Bb
Enlarging your world
Fm Bb
Mad world
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Mad World Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Mad World" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Mad World" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
