Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Lulu's Back In Town on piano
By Al Dubin
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- V7–I–II7–V7 loop
- 1935
- Easy
Learn Lulu's Back In Town in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb – F7 – Bb7
Lulu's Back In Town sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7V7EbIF7II7Bb7V7- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 BPM
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: F7 – Bb7 – Eb
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
F7Bb7Eb
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Questions about Lulu's Back In Town
What chords are in Lulu's Back In Town?
The loop is Bb7 – Eb – F7 – Bb7 (V7 – I – II7 – V7) in Eb major, and the song ends on F7 – Bb7 – Eb.
What key is Lulu's Back In Town in?
Eb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Lulu's Back In Town?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Lulu's Back In Town 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.