Piano chords · Waltz garden

How to play Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On on piano

By Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A7 – D – A7 – D
How it goes
Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7V7DIA7V7DI
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A
414 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
Oom-pah-pahWaltz · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Waltz bells
How it goes
A single high note, then two chords: ding, dong, dong in three. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz bellsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 110 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: D – A7 – D
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DA7D

What chords are in Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On?

The loop is A7 – D – A7 – D (V7 – I – V7 – I) in D major, and the song ends on D – A7 – D.

What key is Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On in?

D major, at about 110 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On?

Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On 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 Hold On Little Dogies, Hold On?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.