Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play New York on piano
By Paloma Faith
- C major
- 4/4
- 97 BPM
- 2009
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn New York in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – Am7 – G – F – C
How it goes
New York sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: E is E, G# and B; Am7 is A, C, E and G; G is G, B and D; F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIIIAm7vi7GVFIVCI- EE · G# · B
- Am7A · C · E · G
- GG · B · D
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Leapfrog pulse
How it goes
One long note, then a quick hop that leaps right into beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2a · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 153 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
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 97 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
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Questions about New York
What chords are in New York?
The loop is E – Am7 – G – F – C (III – vi7 – V – IV – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is New York in?
C major, at about 97 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in New York?
Leapfrog pulse: root bass · 1 · 2a · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is New York easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of New York?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.