Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Dear Old Nebraska on piano
Written by Harry Pecha
- Ab major
- 2/2
- 96 BPM
- I–II7–V7–I loop
- 1931
- Easy
Learn Dear Old Nebraska in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Bb7 – Eb7 – Ab
Dear Old Nebraska sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIBb7II7Eb7V7AbI- AbAb · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), 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 96 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: Bb7 – Eb7 – Ab
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
Bb7Eb7Ab
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Questions about Dear Old Nebraska
What chords are in Dear Old Nebraska?
The loop is Ab – Bb7 – Eb7 – Ab (I – II7 – V7 – I) in Ab major, and the song ends on Bb7 – Eb7 – Ab.
What key is Dear Old Nebraska in?
Ab major, at about 96 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Dear Old Nebraska?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dear Old Nebraska 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.