Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The American Dream on piano
- F# major
- 4/4
- 84 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The American Dream in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F# – D#m – F# – D#7
How it goes
The American Dream sits in F# major: F# is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F# is F#, A# and C#; D#m is D#, F# and A#; D#7 is D#, F##, A# and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F#ID#mviF#ID#7VI7- F#F# · A# · C#
- D#mD# · F# · A#
- D#7D# · F## · A# · C#
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Double-clap chords
How it goes
Quick double claps on beats 2 and 4, leaving beats 1 and 3 empty. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 84 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: B – C# – F#
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BC#F#- BB · D# · F#
- C#C# · E# · G#
Play next
Questions about The American Dream
What chords are in The American Dream?
The loop is F# – D#m – F# – D#7 (I – vi – I – VI7) in F# major, and the song ends on B – C# – F#.
What key is The American Dream in?
F# major, at about 84 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The American Dream?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The American Dream 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.