Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Almost There on piano
By Randy Newman
- C major
- 4/4
- 116 BPM
- 2009
- Easy
Learn Almost There in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – C – E7 – Am7 – D7
Almost There sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; C is C, E and G; E7 is E, G#, B and D; Am7 is A, C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7II7CIE7III7Am7vi7D7II7- D7D · F# · A · C
- CC · E · G
- E7E · G# · B · D
- Am7A · C · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
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: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 116 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: D7 – G7 – C
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D7G7C- G7G · B · D · F
Play next
Questions about Almost There
What chords are in Almost There?
The loop is D7 – C – E7 – Am7 – D7 (II7 – I – III7 – vi7 – II7) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is Almost There in?
C major, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Almost There?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Almost There easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Almost There?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the bass riff of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.