Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Over There on piano
By James Cagney
- Bb major
- 2/4
- 100 BPM
- I–V7–I–I7 loop
- Easy
Learn Over There in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – F7 – Bb – Bb7
Over There sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIF7V7BbIBb7I7- BbBb · D · F
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Brass-band march
A bold open chord, then a low note: oom-pah like a marching band. Musicians call it lh power fifths (2/4) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in 234 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Marching chords
Two chords per bar, left-right, like a happy little march. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
Play next
Questions about Over There
What chords are in Over There?
The loop is Bb – F7 – Bb – Bb7 (I – V7 – I – I7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Over There in?
Bb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in Over There?
Brass-band march: lh power fifths (2/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Over There 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.