Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day) on piano
By Jethro Tull
- F major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- I–IV–I–V loop
- 1975
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Bb – F – C
How it goes
Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day) sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Bb is Bb, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIBbIVFICV- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Wobbly heartbeat
How it goes
Two off-balance notes on the “ands”, then a firm landing on beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 267 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
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Questions about Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day)
What chords are in Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day)?
The loop is F – Bb – F – C (I – IV – I – V) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day) in?
F major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day)?
Wobbly heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day) 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.