Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Three Little Words on piano
By Glen Ballard
- C major
- 4/4
- 95 BPM
- I–ii–V7–I loop
- 2011
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Three Little Words in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Dm – G7 – C
How it goes
Three Little Words sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIDmiiG7V7CI- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 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: Beacon blink
How it goes
The root and a higher note blink on and off, calm and clear. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 95 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
Play next
Questions about Three Little Words
What chords are in Three Little Words?
The loop is C – Dm – G7 – C (I – ii – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Three Little Words in?
C major, at about 95 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Three Little Words?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Three Little Words 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.