Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Sleepy Time Gal on piano
- G major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- 1925
- Easy
Learn Sleepy Time Gal in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – G – Eb7 – D7
Sleepy Time Gal sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7V7GIEb7bVI7D7V7- D7D · F# · A · C
- GG · B · D
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sprint-and-stop chords
Four quick chords in the first half, then a calm, empty second half. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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 – D7 – G
The last chords are IV – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CD7G- CC · E · G
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Questions about Sleepy Time Gal
What chords are in Sleepy Time Gal?
The loop is D7 – G – Eb7 – D7 (V7 – I – bVI7 – V7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D7 – G.
What key is Sleepy Time Gal in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Sleepy Time Gal?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Sleepy Time Gal 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.