One Day At A Time Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn One Day At A Time in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: C – C7 – F – C
One Day At A Time sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIC7I7FIVCI
- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
62 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
Oom-pah-pahWaltz · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Waltz bells
A single high note, then two chords: ding, dong, dong in three. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz bellsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 144 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: C – F – C
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC

What chords are in One Day At A Time?

The loop is C – C7 – F – C (I – I7 – IV – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.

What key is One Day At A Time in?

C major, at about 144 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in One Day At A Time?

Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is One Day At A Time 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.