Glory Days Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Glory Days in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Ab – Db – Ab – Db
Glory Days sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIDbIVAbIDbIV
- AbAb · C · Eb
- DbDb · F · Ab
782 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bounce-back seesaw
Low, low, a hop up on beat 3, and straight back down. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 173 songs of the library.
Bounce-back seesawRoot–fifth bass · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
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 120 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: Gb – Db – Ab
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbDbAb
- GbGb · Bb · Db

What chords are in Glory Days?

The loop is Ab – Db – Ab – Db (I – IV – I – IV) in Ab major, and the song ends on Gb – Db – Ab.

What key is Glory Days in?

Ab major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Glory Days?

Bounce-back seesaw: root–fifth 1-1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Glory Days 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.