Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play The Third Man Theme on piano
Written by Walter Lord
- C major
- 2/2
- 96 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1949
- Medium
Learn The Third Man Theme in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – G7 – C
The Third Man Theme sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIG7V7CI- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Froggy bounce
Fifth, high root, low root, high root: a jolly hopping country bass. Musicians call it broken chord 5-8-1-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 133 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pumping chords
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 96 BPM
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 – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about The Third Man Theme
What chords are in The Third Man Theme?
The loop is G7 – C – G7 – C (V7 – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is The Third Man Theme in?
C major, at about 96 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in The Third Man Theme?
Froggy bounce: broken chord 5-8-1-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Third Man Theme easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.