Super Simple Chords

Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play Two For The Road on piano

By Henry Mancini

  • G major
  • 4/4
  • 76 BPM
  • 1967
  • Easy
Tuning the piano…
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Left hand Boom-chickRight hand Heartbeat chordsChords worked out from the notes of the famous part

Play the full song with sheet music

Learn Two For The Road in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

  1. 1

    Chords: Ab7 – D7 – B7 – Eb – Bm – Em7 – Em7

    How it goes

    Two For The Road sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb; D7 is D, F#, A and C; B7 is B, D#, F# and A; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Bm is B, D and F#; Em7 is E, G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.

    Ab7bII7D7V7B7III7EbbVIBmiiiEm7vi7Em7vi7
    • Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
    • D7D · F# · A · C
    • B7B · D# · F# · A
    • EbEb · G · Bb
    • BmB · D · F#
    • Em7E · G · B · D
  2. 2

    Left hand: Boom-chick

    How it goes

    Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.

  3. 3

    Right hand: Heartbeat chords

    How it goes

    Long, short, long: chords on the pop heartbeat, then a rest. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.

  4. 4

    Both hands at 76 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. 5

    Ending: C – D – G

    How it goes

    The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.

    CDG
    • CC · E · G
    • DD · F# · A
    • GG · B · D

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Questions about Two For The Road

What chords are in Two For The Road?

The loop is Ab7 – D7 – B7 – Eb – Bm – Em7 – Em7 (bII7 – V7 – III7 – bVI – iii – vi7 – bII7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Two For The Road in?

G major, at about 76 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Two For The Road?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Two For The Road easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Two For The Road?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.