Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Once Upon A Time In New York City on piano
Written by Barry Mann
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- ii–I–ii–I loop
- 1988
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Once Upon A Time In New York City in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Fm – Eb – Fm – Eb
How it goes
Once Upon A Time In New York City sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Fm is F, Ab and C; Eb is Eb, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FmiiEbIFmiiEbI- FmF · Ab · C
- EbEb · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Ticking clock
How it goes
One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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
Play next
Questions about Once Upon A Time In New York City
What chords are in Once Upon A Time In New York City?
The loop is Fm – Eb – Fm – Eb (ii – I – ii – I) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Once Upon A Time In New York City in?
Eb major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Once Upon A Time In New York City?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Once Upon A Time In New York City easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.