Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Marble Arch on piano
By Dave Brubeck
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 112 BPM
- 1959
- Easy
Learn Marble Arch in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab7 – Db – Cm – Bbm
Marble Arch sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb; Db is Db, F and Ab; Cm is C, Eb and G; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Ab7I7DbIVCmiiiBbmii- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- DbDb · F · Ab
- CmC · Eb · G
- BbmBb · Db · F
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
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: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 112 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: Eb – Db – Ab
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbDbAb- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
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Questions about Marble Arch
What chords are in Marble Arch?
The loop is Ab7 – Db – Cm – Bbm (I7 – IV – iii – ii) in Ab major, and the song ends on Eb – Db – Ab.
What key is Marble Arch in?
Ab major, at about 112 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Marble Arch?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Marble Arch 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.