Piano chords · Waltz garden

How to play My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean on piano

Written by Traditional

Tuning the piano…

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Learn My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – A7 – D7 – G
How it goes
My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIVA7II7D7V7GI
- CC · E · G
- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- GG · B · D
2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
Oom-pah-pahWaltz · WaltzLeft handEasy
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
Both hands at 130 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: A7 – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
A7D7G

What chords are in My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean?

The loop is C – A7 – D7 – G (IV – II7 – V7 – I) in G major, and the song ends on A7 – D7 – G.

What key is My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean in?

G major, at about 130 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean?

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

Is My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean 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.