Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The Birthday Of A King on piano
By William H. Neidlinger
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1992
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Birthday Of A King in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Eb – Db – Dbm
How it goes
The Birthday Of A King sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Db is Db, F and Ab; Dbm is Db, Fb and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIEbVDbIVDbmiv- AbAb · C · Eb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- DbDb · F · Ab
- DbmDb · Fb · Ab
- 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: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Ab – Eb7 – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbEb7Ab- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
Play next
Questions about The Birthday Of A King
What chords are in The Birthday Of A King?
The loop is Ab – Eb – Db – Dbm (I – V – IV – iv) in Ab major, and the song ends on Ab – Eb7 – Ab.
What key is The Birthday Of A King in?
Ab major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Birthday Of A King?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Birthday Of A King 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 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.