Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play A Healthy, Normal American Boy on piano
Written by Charles Strouse
- G major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- Easy
Learn A Healthy, Normal American Boy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb7 – G – C – D
A Healthy, Normal American Boy sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db; G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Eb7bVI7GICIVDV- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bouncy bells
A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 BPM
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
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
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Questions about A Healthy, Normal American Boy
What chords are in A Healthy, Normal American Boy?
The loop is Eb7 – G – C – D (bVI7 – I – IV – V) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is A Healthy, Normal American Boy in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in A Healthy, Normal American Boy?
Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is A Healthy, Normal American Boy 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.