Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Lazy Afternoon on piano
By Jerome Moross
- C major
- 4/4
- 84 BPM
- vi–II7–vi–II7 loop
- 1954
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Lazy Afternoon in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – D7 – Am – D7
How it goes
Lazy Afternoon sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviD7II7AmviD7II7- AmA · C · E
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 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: Push-and-land chords
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 84 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
Play next
Questions about Lazy Afternoon
What chords are in Lazy Afternoon?
The loop is Am – D7 – Am – D7 (vi – II7 – vi – II7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Lazy Afternoon in?
C major, at about 84 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Lazy Afternoon?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Lazy Afternoon 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.