Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play You’re A Grand Old Flag on piano
- G major
- 2/4
- 120 BPM
- 2002
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn You’re A Grand Old Flag in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – G – Edim – D7
How it goes
You’re A Grand Old Flag sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D; Edim is E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7V7GIEdimvi°D7V7- D7D · F# · A · C
- GG · B · D
- EdimE · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Toy-soldier march
How it goes
A bright two-note chord, then the low root: a toy soldier’s left-right. Musicians call it lh triads (2/4) (left-hand chords), a medium pattern heard in 205 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Clockwork chords
How it goes
Four quick, even chords per short bar, ticking like clockwork. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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
Ending: G – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GD7G
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Questions about You’re A Grand Old Flag
What chords are in You’re A Grand Old Flag?
The loop is D7 – G – Edim – D7 (V7 – I – vio – V7) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.
What key is You’re A Grand Old Flag in?
G major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/4.
What does the left hand play in You’re A Grand Old Flag?
Toy-soldier march: lh triads (2/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is You’re A Grand Old Flag easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.