Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play Gary, Indiana on piano

By Meredith Willson

  • G major
  • 2/2
  • 110 BPM
  • 1954
  • Easy
Tuning the piano…
Learn it
Style

Left hand Boom-chickThe right hand sings the tuneChords the loop the song repeats most

Learn Gary, Indiana in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

  1. 1

    Chords: D7 – G – C7 – G

    Gary, Indiana sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    D7V7GIC7IV7GI
    • D7D · F# · A · C
    • GG · B · D
    • C7C · E · G · Bb
  2. 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. 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. 4

    Both hands at 110 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. 5

    Ending: G – D7 – G

    The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.

    GD7G

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Questions about Gary, Indiana

What chords are in Gary, Indiana?

The loop is D7 – G – C7 – G (V7 – I – IV7 – I) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.

What key is Gary, Indiana in?

G major, at about 110 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Gary, Indiana?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Gary, Indiana 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.