Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Think On Me on piano
By George Cables
- C major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- 1971
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Think On Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – Cm – Am – Cm
How it goes
Think On Me sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Cm is C, Eb and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviCmiAmviCmi- AmA · C · E
- CmC · Eb · G
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Skipping-stone chords
How it goes
One chord, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 130 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 – G – C
How it goes
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
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Think On Me
What chords are in Think On Me?
The loop is Am – Cm – Am – Cm (vi – i – vi – i) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Think On Me in?
C major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Think On Me?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Think On Me 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.