Garden Party

by Ricky Nelson
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Lyrics

I (D)went to a gar den par ty to rem i (D)nisce with my old friends,

a (D)chance to (A)share old (Bm)mem o ries there was and play our (G6)songs a gain.

When I got to the gar den par ty,

I (D)they all knew my name,

When but (D)no one rec og nized lan’s me,

I did n’t (Em7)look the same.

But it’s (G)al (A)right (D)now,

I (G)learned my (A)les son (D)well.

You see, you can’t please (D)ev ’ry one, so you got to (Em7)please your self.

(D)Peo came for miles a round, songs, to rem I (D)ev ’ry one was there.

a (D)Yo ko (A)brought her (Bm)wal in’ rus, there was we mag ic (G6)in the air.

If And o ver at in the cor ner,

I (D)much to my sur prise,

When I (D)Mis ter Hughes hid in ky shoes,

I’d wear ing (Em7)his dis guise.

But it’s (G)al (A)right (D)now,

I (G)learned my (A)les son (D)well.

You see, you can’t please (D)ev ’ry one, so you got to (Em7)please your self.

3.

(D)played them a all the old songs, to rem and (D)thought that’s why they came;

a (D)no one (A)heard the (Bm)mu in’ sic, there was and did n’t (G6)look the same.

If I said hel at lo to “Mar Lou,”

I (D)she be longs to me.

When but (D)sang a song ’bout a I tonk,

I’d it was (Em7)time to leave.

But it’s (G)al (A)right (D)now,

I (G)learned my (A)les son (D)well.

You see, you can’t please (D)ev ’ry one, so you got to (Em7)please your self.

3.

4.

one

I (D)opened up a clos et door, songs, to rem and (D)out stepped John ny Good,

a (D)play gui (A)tar like (Bm)ring in’ bell, there was and look in’ (G6)like he should.

If you got play at gar den par ties,

I (D)wish you a of luck,

When but (D)mem o ries were all I sang,

I’d rath er (Em7)drive a truck.

But it’s (G)al (A)right (D)now,

I (G)learned my (A)les son (D)well.

You see, you can’t please (D)ev ’ry one, so you got to (Em7)please your self.

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Garden Party — Classic Piano Sheet Music

Read "Garden Party" by Ricky Nelson in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of D. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 120 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Garden Party

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Garden Party"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature D. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Garden Party" by Ricky Nelson played in?
Garden Party is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Garden Party"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Garden Party" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Garden Party"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Garden Party"?
"Garden Party" was originally performed by Ricky Nelson. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Garden Party"?
This arrangement uses 6 chords: A, Bm, D, Em7, G, G6.
What other songs by Ricky Nelson can I play here?
Try "TRAVELIN' MAN", "HELLO MARY LOU", "LONESOME TOWN". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Garden Party" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature D, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 120 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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