Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Keep On The Sunny Side on piano
By The Carter Family
- Bb major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- I–IV–I–V loop
- 1928
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Keep On The Sunny Side in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Eb – Bb – F
How it goes
Keep On The Sunny Side sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIEbIVBbIFV- BbBb · D · F
- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
How it goes
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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
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Questions about Keep On The Sunny Side
What chords are in Keep On The Sunny Side?
The loop is Bb – Eb – Bb – F (I – IV – I – V) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Keep On The Sunny Side in?
Bb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Keep On The Sunny Side?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Keep On The Sunny Side 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.