How to play Goodbye, Old Girl on piano

Learn Goodbye, Old Girl in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – D7 – G – D7
How it goes
Goodbye, Old Girl sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GID7V7GID7V7
- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
222 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Lazy seesaw
How it goes
A low note, a higher one, a gap, then the higher one again. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 520 songs of the library.
Lazy seesawRoot–fifth bass · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 80 BPM
How it goes
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: G – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GDG
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in Goodbye, Old Girl?

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

What key is Goodbye, Old Girl in?

G major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Goodbye, Old Girl?

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

Is Goodbye, Old Girl 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.