Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Prince Ali on piano
By Alan Menken
- C minor
- 2/2
- 140 BPM
- 1992
- Easy
Learn Prince Ali in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – Fm – C7 – Fm
Prince Ali sits in C minor: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7I7FmivC7I7Fmiv- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wobbly chords
Two off-balance chords on the “ands”, then a firm landing on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: Ab – Bb – Cm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbCm- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- CmC · Eb · G
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Questions about Prince Ali
What chords are in Prince Ali?
The loop is C7 – Fm – C7 – Fm (I7 – iv – I7 – iv) in C minor, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Cm.
What key is Prince Ali in?
C minor, at about 140 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Prince Ali?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Prince Ali 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.