Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play It's A Long Way To Tipperary on piano
By Jack Judge
- C major
- 2/4
- 100 BPM
- 2017
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn It's A Long Way To Tipperary in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – Em – Am
How it goes
It's A Long Way To Tipperary sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIEmiiiAmvi- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Brass-band march
How it goes
A bold open chord, then a low note: oom-pah like a marching band. Musicians call it lh power fifths (2/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 234 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Marching chords
How it goes
Two chords per bar, left-right, like a happy little march. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: D7 – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D7G7C- D7D · F# · A · C
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Questions about It's A Long Way To Tipperary
What chords are in It's A Long Way To Tipperary?
The loop is G7 – C – Em – Am (V7 – I – iii – vi) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is It's A Long Way To Tipperary in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in It's A Long Way To Tipperary?
Brass-band march: lh power fifths (2/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is It's A Long Way To Tipperary 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.