Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play Luck Be A Lady on piano

By Frank Loesser

  • C major
  • 2/2
  • 100 BPM
  • 1950
  • Easy
Tuning the piano…
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Left hand Oom-pahThe right hand sings the tuneChords worked out from the notes of the famous part

Play the full song with sheet music

Learn Luck Be A Lady in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

  1. 1

    Chords: Db7 – C – Db7 – C

    How it goes

    Luck Be A Lady sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Db7 is Db, F, Ab and Cb; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    Db7bII7CIDb7bII7CI
    • Db7Db · F · Ab · Cb
    • CC · E · G
  2. 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. 3

    Right hand: the chords, held

    How it goes

    In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.

  4. 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. 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

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Questions about Luck Be A Lady

What chords are in Luck Be A Lady?

The loop is Db7 – C – Db7 – C (bII7 – I – bII7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.

What key is Luck Be A Lady in?

C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Luck Be A Lady?

Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Luck Be A Lady 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 Luck Be A Lady?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.