Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play But For Now on piano
Artist unknown
- C minor
- 4/4
- 70 BPM
- Easy
Learn But For Now in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – Eb – Am – Ab
But For Now sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Am is A, C and E; Ab is Ab, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmiEbIIIAmviAbVI- CmC · Eb · G
- EbEb · G · Bb
- AmA · C · E
- AbAb · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 70 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 – Bb – C
The last chords are I – bVII – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CBbC- CC · E · G
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about But For Now
What chords are in But For Now?
The loop is Cm – Eb – Am – Ab (i – bIII – vi – bVI) in C minor, and the song ends on C – Bb – C.
What key is But For Now in?
C minor, at about 70 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in But For Now?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is But For Now 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.