Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Throwing It All Away on piano
Artist unknown
- Db major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- Easy
Learn Throwing It All Away in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Db – Gb – Db – Gb
Throwing It All Away sits in Db major: Db is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Db is Db, F and Ab; Gb is Gb, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DbIGbIVDbIGbIV- DbDb · F · Ab
- GbGb · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
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: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Gb – Ab – Db
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GbAbDb- AbAb · C · Eb
Play next
Questions about Throwing It All Away
What chords are in Throwing It All Away?
The loop is Db – Gb – Db – Gb (I – IV – I – IV) in Db major, and the song ends on Gb – Ab – Db.
What key is Throwing It All Away in?
Db major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Throwing It All Away?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Throwing It All Away 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.