Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play An Englishman In New York on piano
By Sting
- B minor
- 4/4
- 102 BPM
- 1987
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn An Englishman In New York in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – A – Bm – A
How it goes
An Englishman In New York sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; A is A, C# and E; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmivAVIIBmiAVII- EmE · G · B
- AA · C# · E
- BmB · 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: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 102 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: G – A – Bm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm- GG · B · D
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Questions about An Englishman In New York
What chords are in An Englishman In New York?
The loop is Em – A – Bm – A (iv – bVII – i – bVII) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.
What key is An Englishman In New York in?
B minor, at about 102 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in An Englishman In New York?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is An Englishman In New York 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.