Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play The Bare Necessities on piano

By Terry Gilkyson

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn The Bare Necessities in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Gm7 – C7 – F – F
The Bare Necessities sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Gm7 is G, Bb, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Gm7ii7C7V7FIFI
- Gm7G · Bb · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
2
Left hand: Oom-pah
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.
Oom-pahStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
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.
Wait-a-beat chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 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: Gm – C7 – F
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmC7F
- GmG · Bb · D

What chords are in The Bare Necessities?

The loop is Gm7 – C7 – F – F (ii7 – V7 – I – ii7) in F major, and the song ends on Gm – C7 – F.

What key is The Bare Necessities in?

F major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in The Bare Necessities?

Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Bare Necessities 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.

Can I hear the real melody of The Bare Necessities?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from 6 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.