Piano chords · Old-time stride
When Lights Are Low: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Benny Carter
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- I–ii–I–ii loop
- 1936
- Easy
When Lights Are Low written out as piano music: the I – ii – I – ii loop in Eb major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays stride jumps (stride) and the right hand freeze-tag chords.
When Lights Are Low chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in Eb major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eb | I | Eb G Bb |
| 2 | Fm | ii | F Ab C |
| 3 | Eb | I | Eb G Bb |
| 4 | Fm | ii | F Ab C |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: stride jumps (stride) in the left hand and freeze-tag chords in the right, over the Eb – Fm – Eb – Fm chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
Play next
Questions about When Lights Are Low
Does the sheet music for When Lights Are Low have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in When Lights Are Low?
The loop is Eb – Fm – Eb – Fm (I – ii – I – ii) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is When Lights Are Low in?
Eb major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in When Lights Are Low?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is When Lights Are Low 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.