Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Friend Like Me on piano
By Alan Menken
- D minor
- 4/4
- 150 BPM
- 1992
- Easy
Learn Friend Like Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – Dm – A7 – Dm
Friend Like Me sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7V7DmiA7V7Dmi- A7A · C# · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
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: Wait-a-beat chords
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 150 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: Bb – C – Dm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Friend Like Me
What chords are in Friend Like Me?
The loop is A7 – Dm – A7 – Dm (V7 – i – V7 – i) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Friend Like Me in?
D minor, at about 150 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Friend Like Me?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Friend Like Me 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Friend Like Me?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.