Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play Under The Boardwalk on piano
Written by Artie Resnick & Kenny Young
- G major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–V7–I–IV loop
- 1964
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Under The Boardwalk in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D7 – G – C
How it goes
Under The Boardwalk sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, F#, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GID7V7GICIV- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pony-trot chords
How it goes
Quick trotting chords, then a jump over beat 3 to its “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Under The Boardwalk
What chords are in Under The Boardwalk?
The loop is G – D7 – G – C (I – V7 – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Under The Boardwalk in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Under The Boardwalk?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Under The Boardwalk easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.