Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Old And Wise on piano
Written by Eric Woolfson & Alan Parsons
- A minor
- 2/2
- 90 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Learn Old And Wise in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Em – F – Em
Old And Wise sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FVIEmvFVIEmv- FF · A · C
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: F – G – Am
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
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Questions about Old And Wise
What chords are in Old And Wise?
The loop is F – Em – F – Em (bVI – v – bVI – v) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.
What key is Old And Wise in?
A minor, at about 90 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Old And Wise?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Old And Wise 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.