Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play You Gotta Have A Gimmick on piano
Written by Jule Styne
- G major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- 1959
- Easy
Learn You Gotta Have A Gimmick in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – D7 – G7 – C7
You Gotta Have A Gimmick sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7II7D7V7G7I7C7IV7- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Bossa sway
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: C – D – G
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 You Gotta Have A Gimmick
What chords are in You Gotta Have A Gimmick?
The loop is A7 – D7 – G7 – C7 (II7 – V7 – I7 – IV7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is You Gotta Have A Gimmick in?
G major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in You Gotta Have A Gimmick?
Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is You Gotta Have A Gimmick 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.