Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The Nearness Of You on piano
- F major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 1937
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Nearness Of You in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am7 – Ab7 – Gm7 – C7 – Am7 – D7 – Gm7 – C7
How it goes
The Nearness Of You sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 8 chords: Am7 is A, C, E and G; Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb; Gm7 is G, Bb, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Am7iii7Ab7bIII7Gm7ii7C7V7Am7iii7D7VI7Gm7ii7C7V7- Am7A · C · E · G
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- Gm7G · Bb · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 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: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 80 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: Bb – Bbm – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – iv – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbBbmF- BbBb · D · F
- BbmBb · Db · F
- FF · A · C
Play next
Questions about The Nearness Of You
What chords are in The Nearness Of You?
The loop is Am7 – Ab7 – Gm7 – C7 – Am7 – D7 – Gm7 – C7 (iii7 – bIII7 – ii7 – V7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – Bbm – F.
What key is The Nearness Of You in?
F major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Nearness Of You?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Nearness Of You easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 8 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of The Nearness Of You?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.