The Lord Must Be In New York City Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Lord Must Be In New York City in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D – A7 – D – A7
How it goes
The Lord Must Be In New York City sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIA7V7DIA7V7
- DD · F# · A
- A7A · C# · E · G
222 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Island zigzag
How it goes
A jump up, then down past the start, in the three-three-two rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
Island zigzagBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
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 120 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in The Lord Must Be In New York City?

The loop is D – A7 – D – A7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is The Lord Must Be In New York City in?

D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Lord Must Be In New York City?

Island zigzag: broken chord 8-12-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Lord Must Be In New York City 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.