Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play On The Good Ship Lollipop on piano
Written by Sidney Clare & Richard A. Whiting
- C major
- 2/2
- 140 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1934
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn On The Good Ship Lollipop in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – G7 – C
How it goes
On The Good Ship Lollipop sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIG7V7CI- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Island seesaw
How it goes
Low, high, low in the three-three-two island rhythm. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 723 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: C – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C
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Questions about On The Good Ship Lollipop
What chords are in On The Good Ship Lollipop?
The loop is G7 – C – G7 – C (V7 – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is On The Good Ship Lollipop in?
C major, at about 140 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in On The Good Ship Lollipop?
Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is On The Good Ship Lollipop 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.