Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York on piano
Written by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin & others
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1935
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Gb7 – Eb – F7
How it goes
There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Gb7 is Gb, Bb, Db and Fb; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIGb7bVI7EbIVF7V7- BbBb · D · F
- Gb7Gb · Bb · Db · Fb
- EbEb · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
How it goes
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Skip-and-stroll chords
How it goes
A skippy push at the start, then calm chords on 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Eb – F – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- FF · A · C
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Questions about There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York
What chords are in There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York?
The loop is Bb – Gb7 – Eb – F7 (I – bVI7 – IV – V7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York in?
Bb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York 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.