Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Carnival Town on piano
Artist unknown
- F major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Carnival Town in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – E7 – Am – Bb
How it goes
Carnival Town sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; E7 is E, G#, B and D; Am is A, C and E; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIE7VII7AmiiiBbIV- FF · A · C
- E7E · G# · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
How it goes
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
How it goes
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- CC · E · G
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Questions about Carnival Town
What chords are in Carnival Town?
The loop is F – E7 – Am – Bb (I – VII7 – iii – IV) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Carnival Town in?
F major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Carnival Town?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Carnival Town 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.