Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play A Wink And A Smile on piano
By Harry Connick Jr.
- C major
- 4/4
- 84 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn A Wink And A Smile in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – Ab7 – C
How it goes
A Wink And A Smile sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIAb7bVI7CI- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 84 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about A Wink And A Smile
What chords are in A Wink And A Smile?
The loop is G7 – C – Ab7 – C (V7 – I – bVI7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is A Wink And A Smile in?
C major, at about 84 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in A Wink And A Smile?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is A Wink And A Smile 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.