Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The Man With The Horn on piano
By Eddie De Lange
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 105 BPM
- I–ii–I–ii loop
- 1946
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Man With The Horn in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Fm – Eb – Fm
How it goes
The Man With The Horn sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Fm is F, Ab and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIFmiiEbIFmii- EbEb · G · Bb
- FmF · Ab · C
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
How it goes
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 105 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: Eb – Ab7 – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbAb7Eb- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
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Questions about The Man With The Horn
What chords are in The Man With The Horn?
The loop is Eb – Fm – Eb – Fm (I – ii – I – ii) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Ab7 – Eb.
What key is The Man With The Horn in?
Eb major, at about 105 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Man With The Horn?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Man With The Horn 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.