Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play My Island Paradise on piano
Written by Webley Edwards, W.H. Miller & others
- C major
- 2/2
- 80 BPM
- V7–I–I7–IV loop
- 1959
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn My Island Paradise in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – C7 – F
How it goes
My Island Paradise sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIC7I7FIV- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · 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: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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- GG · B · D
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Questions about My Island Paradise
What chords are in My Island Paradise?
The loop is G7 – C – C7 – F (V7 – I – I7 – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is My Island Paradise in?
C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in My Island Paradise?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is My Island Paradise 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.