Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play God Bless' The Child on piano
By Arthur Herzog Jr.
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 65 BPM
- I7–IV7–I7–IV7 loop
- 1941
- Easy
Learn God Bless' The Child in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb7 – Ab7 – Eb7 – Ab7
God Bless' The Child sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db; Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Eb7I7Ab7IV7Eb7I7Ab7IV7- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), 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 65 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
- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about God Bless' The Child
What chords are in God Bless' The Child?
The loop is Eb7 – Ab7 – Eb7 – Ab7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – IV7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is God Bless' The Child in?
Eb major, at about 65 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in God Bless' The Child?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is God Bless' The Child 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.