Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Walk On By on piano
- C major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1964
- Easy
Learn Walk On By in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – Bb – C7 – F
Walk On By sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Bb is Bb, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviBbbVIIC7I7FIV- AmA · C · E
- BbBb · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
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: Gospel-clap chords
Skips beat 1, then soulful chords that bounce off the “ands”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Walk On By
What chords are in Walk On By?
The loop is Am – Bb – C7 – F (vi – bVII – I7 – IV) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Walk On By in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Walk On By?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Walk On By 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Walk On By?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.