Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Down Yonder on piano
By L. Wolfe Gilbert
- Eb major
- 2/4
- 136 BPM
- I–II7–V7–I loop
- 1997
- Easy
Learn Down Yonder in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – F7 – Bb7 – Eb
Down Yonder sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIF7II7Bb7V7EbI- EbEb · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Brass-band march
A bold open chord, then a low note: oom-pah like a marching band. Musicians call it lh power fifths (2/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 234 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Polka-hop chords
Chords only on the “ands” in a quick two-beat bar: the “pah” of a polka. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 136 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
Play next
Questions about Down Yonder
What chords are in Down Yonder?
The loop is Eb – F7 – Bb7 – Eb (I – II7 – V7 – I) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Down Yonder in?
Eb major, at about 136 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in Down Yonder?
Brass-band march: lh power fifths (2/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Down Yonder 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.