Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play The Song We Were Singing on piano
Written by Paul McCartney
- D major
- 3/4
- 160 BPM
- I–bVII–IV–I loop
- 1997
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Song We Were Singing in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – C – G – D
How it goes
The Song We Were Singing sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DICbVIIGIVDI- DD · F# · A
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah-pah
How it goes
One strong beat and two light ones: a dance in three. Musicians call it waltz oom-pah-pah (waltz), an easy pattern heard in 526 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Waltz bells
How it goes
A single high note, then two chords: ding, dong, dong in three. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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 – G – D
How it goes
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CGD
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Questions about The Song We Were Singing
What chords are in The Song We Were Singing?
The loop is D – C – G – D (I – bVII – IV – I) in D major, and the song ends on C – G – D.
What key is The Song We Were Singing in?
D major, at about 160 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in The Song We Were Singing?
Oom-pah-pah: waltz oom-pah-pah, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Song We Were Singing 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.