Piano chords · Waltz garden

How to play No Charge on piano

By Shirley Caesar

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn No Charge in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – D – Em – C
How it goes
No Charge sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIDVEmviCIV
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
Oom-pah-pahWaltz · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Swaying waltz chords
How it goes
Two waltz chords, then a late top note after beat 3 that leans forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Swaying waltz chordsSyncopated chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 140 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 – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG

What chords are in No Charge?

The loop is G – D – Em – C (I – V – vi – IV) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is No Charge in?

G major, at about 140 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in No Charge?

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

Is No Charge 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.