Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The Man With The Bag on piano
By Harold Stanley
- G major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 1954
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Man With The Bag in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C#dim – G – E7 – Am
How it goes
The Man With The Bag sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C#dim is C#, E and G; G is G, B and D; E7 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.
C#dim#iv°GIE7VI7Amii- C#dimC# · E · G
- GG · B · D
- E7E · G# · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
How it goes
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: Skipping-stone chords
How it goes
One chord, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: C – D – G
How it goes
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 The Man With The Bag
What chords are in The Man With The Bag?
The loop is C#dim – G – E7 – Am (#ivo – I – VI7 – ii) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is The Man With The Bag in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Man With The Bag?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Man With The Bag 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.