Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play Candle On The Water (from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon) on piano

By Kasha & Hirschhorn

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Candle On The Water (from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon) in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: F – G7 – C – G
How it goes
Candle On The Water (from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon) sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVG7V7CIGV
- FF · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Oom-pahStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pausing chordsBlock chords · ClassicalRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 72 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
5
Ending: C – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CGC

What chords are in Candle On The Water (from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon)?

The loop is F – G7 – C – G (IV – V7 – I – V) in C major, and the song ends on C – G – C.

What key is Candle On The Water (from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon) in?

C major, at about 72 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Candle On The Water (from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon)?

Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Candle On The Water (from Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon) easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.