Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Smile on piano
- G major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 1987
- Easy
Learn Smile in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – Em7 – Am – Em7 – G – Em7 – Am – Em7
Smile sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: G is G, B and D; Em7 is E, G, B and D; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIEm7vi7AmiiEm7vi7GIEm7vi7AmiiEm7vi7- GG · B · D
- Em7E · G · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- 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: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. 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 – D – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Smile
What chords are in Smile?
The loop is G – Em7 – Am – Em7 – G – Em7 – Am – Em7 (I – vi7 – ii – vi7 – I – vi7 – ii – vi7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Smile in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Smile?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Smile easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Smile?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.