Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Old Cape Cod on piano
Written by Claire Rothrock, Milt Yakus & others
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 90 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Old Cape Cod in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb – Bbm – Eb7
How it goes
Old Cape Cod sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bbm is Bb, Db and F; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7V7EbIBbmvEb7I7- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- BbmBb · Db · F
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
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: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Old Cape Cod
What chords are in Old Cape Cod?
The loop is Bb7 – Eb – Bbm – Eb7 (V7 – I – v – I7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Old Cape Cod in?
Eb major, at about 90 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Old Cape Cod?
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 Cape Cod 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.