Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2) on piano
By Shawn Colvin
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 2002
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – Eb – F – Gm
How it goes
Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2) sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F is F, A and C; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7II7EbIVFVGmvi- C7C · E · G · Bb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- GmG · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
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: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: Eb – F – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2)
What chords are in Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2)?
The loop is C7 – Eb – F – Gm (II7 – IV – V – vi) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2) in?
Bb major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2)?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hold On To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2) 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 To The Good Things (from Stuart Little 2)?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part 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.