Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play Night Song on piano

By Charles Strouse

  • F major
  • 4/4
  • 85 BPM
  • Easy
Tuning the piano…
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Style

Left hand Oom-pahThe right hand sings the tuneChords the loop the song repeats most

Play the full song with sheet music

Learn Night Song in 5 steps

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

  1. 1

    Chords: F – G7 – Bbm – F

    How it goes

    Night Song sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F; Bbm is Bb, Db and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    FIG7II7BbmivFI
    • FF · A · C
    • G7G · B · D · F
    • BbmBb · Db · F
  2. 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. 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. 4

    Both hands at 85 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. 5

    Ending: Bb – C – F

    How it goes

    The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.

    BbCF
    • BbBb · D · F
    • CC · E · G

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Questions about Night Song

What chords are in Night Song?

The loop is F – G7 – Bbm – F (I – II7 – iv – I) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Night Song in?

F major, at about 85 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Night Song?

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

Is Night Song 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.