Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play (I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair on piano
Written by Billy Barnes
- F# major
- 3/4
- 92 BPM
- 1956
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn (I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F# – C#sus4 – F# – C#sus4
How it goes
(I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair sits in F# major: F# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F# is F#, A# and C#; C#sus4 is C#, F# and G#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F#IC#sus4Vsus4F#IC#sus4Vsus4- F#F# · A# · C#
- C#sus4C# · F# · G#
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: Swaying waltz chords
How it goes
Two waltz chords, then a late top note after beat 3 that leans forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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: B – C# – F#
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BC#F#- BB · D# · F#
- C#C# · E# · G#
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Questions about (I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair
What chords are in (I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair?
The loop is F# – C#sus4 – F# – C#sus4 (I – Vsus – I – Vsus) in F# major, and the song ends on B – C# – F#.
What key is (I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair in?
F# major, at about 92 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in (I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair?
Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is (I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair 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.