Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play The Old Magician on piano
By Prefab Sprout
- E major
- 4/4
- 104 BPM
- 2013
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Old Magician in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: B – E – F#m – B
How it goes
The Old Magician sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B is B, D# and F#; E is E, G# and B; F#m is F#, A and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BVEIF#miiBV- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
- F#mF# · A · C#
- 2
Left hand: Waltz roots
How it goes
One low note on each of the three beats: a simple waltz floor. Musicians call it root bass · 3/4 quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 391 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 104 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: F#m – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
F#mBE
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Questions about The Old Magician
What chords are in The Old Magician?
The loop is B – E – F#m – B (V – I – ii – V) in E major, and the song ends on F#m – B – E.
What key is The Old Magician in?
E major, at about 104 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Old Magician?
Waltz roots: root bass · 3/4 quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Old Magician 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.