Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Old Shep on piano
Artist unknown
- Eb major
- 3/4
- 135 BPM
- Easy
Learn Old Shep in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb – C7 – F7
Old Shep 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; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7V7EbIC7VI7F7II7- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Waltz roots
One low note on each of the three beats: a simple waltz floor. Musicians call it root bass · 3/4 quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 391 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Swaying waltz chords
Two waltz chords, then a late top note after beat 3 that leans forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 135 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: Eb – Bb7 – Eb
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbBb7Eb
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Questions about Old Shep
What chords are in Old Shep?
The loop is Bb7 – Eb – C7 – F7 (V7 – I – VI7 – II7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Bb7 – Eb.
What key is Old Shep in?
Eb major, at about 135 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Old Shep?
Waltz roots: root bass · 3/4 quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Old Shep 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.