Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play A Marshmallow World on piano

By Peter De Rose

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn A Marshmallow World in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Em – Em7 – Em7 – Bm7 – Am7 – D – Am7 – D7
How it goes
A Marshmallow World sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Em is E, G and B; Em7 is E, G, B and D; Bm7 is B, D, F# and A; Am7 is A, C, E and G; D is D, F# and A; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmviEm7vi7Em7vi7Bm7iii7Am7ii7DVAm7ii7D7V7
- EmE · G · B
- Em7E · G · B · D
- Bm7B · D · F# · A
- Am7A · C · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- D7D · F# · A · C
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.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Late-hop chords
How it goes
Steady chords with one quick extra hop after beat 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Late-hop chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 108 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: Am – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmD7G
- AmA · C · E
- GG · B · D

What chords are in A Marshmallow World?

The loop is Em – Em7 – Em7 – Bm7 – Am7 – D – Am7 – D7 (vi – vi7 – iii7 – ii7 – V – ii7 – V7 – vi) in G major, and the song ends on Am – D7 – G.

What key is A Marshmallow World in?

G major, at about 108 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in A Marshmallow World?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is A Marshmallow World easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of A Marshmallow World?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.