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Interactive piano tutorial for "Second Best" by Jean Shepard, in F♯ major at about 115 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Slow it down to learn it at your own pace.

Interactive piano roll preview for "Second Best" by Jean Shepard
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This is a preview

Preview of the interactive piano roll for “Second Best” by Jean Shepard.

Second Best
Piano Tutorial

Piano rollFalling notes

This interactive piano roll is a play-along piano tutorial for "Second Best" by Jean Shepard, and one of the simplest ways to learn the song on piano. Every note falls onto the keyboard so you can see exactly what to play and when, and you can slow it right down to work through the fast parts before building back up to full speed.

Inside the music
Signature

Music DNA

Genrecountry · pop · folk
Moodmelancholic · romantic · yearning
Signatureheartfelt country ballad with a pop‑folk sensibility
F♯ major
Key
115
BPM
4/4
Time
Chords

The progression

F♯
B
C♯7
A♭7
C♯
E♭m7
F♯7
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVersePre‑chorusChorusVersePre‑chorusChorusBridgeFinal chorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

acoustic guitar
strummed rhythm and melodic fills
string section
lush, sustained pads that add emotional depth
electric bass
warm, supportive low end
piano
gentle chordal accompaniment and occasional melodic lines
drums
steady, understated beat with soft snare and hi‑hat
Album & artist
ALBUM

Heartaches and Tears (1962)

Released by Capitol Records in March 1962, this 12-track album mixed new material with cover tunes and included the single 'How Long Does It Hurt (When a Heart Breaks)'. It was her fourth studio album and drew positive reviews at the time of its release.

All of Heartaches and Tears
Artist

Jean Shepard

Jean Shepard was born in 1933 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, and grew up to become one of the few women in the 1950s to build a full country music career on her own terms. Her family moved to California, where she got her start, and she made her name with hard-edged honky-tonk vocals and songs that dealt directly with love and heartbreak. She recorded for Capitol Records and became a long-standing member of the Grand Ole Opry.

All Jean Shepard songs
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  1. Step 1
    Bring the recording

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  2. Step 2
    We transcribe it

    Our model listens and arranges this exact performance for piano.

  3. Step 3
    Play & export

    Read it on screen, transpose, slow it down, and export the piano tutorial when it feels right.

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FAQ

Good to know

What key is "Second Best" in?

"Second Best" by Jean Shepard is in F♯ major.

What is the tempo of "Second Best"?

"Second Best" plays at around 115 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chords are in "Second Best"?

The core progression is F♯, B, C♯7, A♭7, C♯, and E♭m7, built around the F♯ major tonal center.

What instruments play on "Second Best"?

The recording features acoustic guitar, electric bass, drums, piano, and string section.

Can I get a piano roll for "Second Best"?

Yes. Songscription turns "Second Best" by Jean Shepard into an interactive piano roll you can play along with.

Is "Second Best" piano tutorial easy to learn?

The piano roll shows every note of "Second Best" falling onto the keys, and you can slow it right down so the fast parts come a few notes at a time. At 115 BPM in F♯ major, it is very learnable once you ease off the speed.

What album is "Second Best" on?

"Second Best" appears on Heartaches and Tears (1962).

How does Songscription turn a song into sheet music?

Give it a recording, a YouTube link or an audio file, and its AI transcribes that performance into notation for the instrument and level you choose.

Can I get sheet music for a live or cover version?

Yes. The score is generated from whatever recording you pick, so a live take, a remix, or a cover each match that exact performance.

What instruments and formats are available?

Piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, sax, bass, drums, vocals and more, as standard sheet music, a piano roll, or guitar tabs.

Is Songscription free to use?

You can try it free, with no credit card needed.

Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?

Yes. You get a downloadable PDF, plus in-app playback and the option to transpose or adjust the arrangement before you print.

How accurate is the transcription?

It is produced by AI trained on millions of bars of music, and you can play it back and fine-tune any details before you download.

Is this transcription licensed?

Yes. We have licensed this track from its publisher, so we are permitted to transcribe it and provide the sheet music to you.

Transcribed from licensed catalogs by AI trained on millions of bars of music.

Made with in California.