Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
The Trolley Song: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Dave Brubeck
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- I–v–I–v loop
- 1943
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
The Trolley Song written out as piano music: the I – v – I – v loop in Eb major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays island pulse (root bass · tresillo 3-3-2) and the right hand pop stabs.
The Trolley Song chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in Eb major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eb | I | Eb G Bb |
| 2 | Bbm | v | Bb Db F |
| 3 | Eb | I | Eb G Bb |
| 4 | Bbm | v | Bb Db F |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: island pulse (root bass · tresillo 3-3-2) in the left hand and pop stabs in the right, over the Eb – Bbm – Eb – Bbm chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about The Trolley Song
Does the sheet music for The Trolley Song have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in The Trolley Song?
The loop is Eb – Bbm – Eb – Bbm (I – v – I – v) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is The Trolley Song in?
Eb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Trolley Song?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Trolley Song 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.