Old Friends

by Stephen Sondheim
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Lyrics

Hey, old friend, are you o (Bm)kay, (F#)old (Bm)friend?

What do you (C)say, old friend, are we or (G)are we u nique?

(Gm7)Time goes (C7)by, ev ’ry thing (F)else keeps chang ing.

(Cm7)You and I, we get con (Ebmaj7)tin ued next (Cm)week.

(C)Most friends fade or they don’t (Bm)make (F#)the (Bm)grade.

New ones are (C)quick ly made and, in a (G)pinch, sure they’ll (G7)do.

But (C)us, old (F7)friend, what’s to dis (Bm7)cuss, old (C)friend?

(C#)Here’s (D7)to us!

Who’s like us?

Damn (C)few.

(C)Hey, old friends, how do we (Bm)stay (F#)old (Gmaj7)friends?

No one can (C)say, old friends, how an old (G)friend ship sur vives.

(Gm7)One day (C7)chums hav ing a (F)laugh a min ute, (Cm7)one day comes, and they’re a (Ebmaj7)part of your (Gmaj7)lives.

(C)New friends pour through the re (Bm)volv (F#)ing (Gmaj7)door.

May be there’s (C)one that’s more.

If you find (G)one, that ’ll (G7)do.

But (C)two old (F7)friends, ’spe cial ly (Bm7)you, old (C)friends, (C#)here’s (D7)to us!

Who’s like us?

(Eb)Two old friends, few er won’t (F)do, old friends.

(F)Got ta have (Eb)two old friends, help ing you (Bb)bal ance a long.

(Bbm7)One up (Eb7)braids you for your (Abmaj7)faults and fan cies, (Abm7)one per suades you that the (Gbmaj7)oth er one’s wrong.

(Eb)Most friends fade or they don’t (Dm)make the grade.

New ones are (Eb)quick ly made, per fect as (Bb)long as they’re (Bb7)new.

But (Ebmaj7)us, old (Ab7)friends what’s to dis (Bb)cuss, old (Eb)friends?

(E)Here’s (Eb)to us!

Who’s (Eb)like us?

Damn (Eb)few!

Old Friends — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

4 people have learned this song

Watch "Old Friends" by Stephen Sondheim in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of G, 132 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Old Friends”

Can I learn "Old Friends" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "Old Friends" with hands-separate practice in G at 132 BPM.
What key is "Old Friends" by Stephen Sondheim played in?
Old Friends is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Old Friends"?
The arrangement plays at 132 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Old Friends" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Old Friends"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Old Friends"?
"Old Friends" was originally performed by Stephen Sondheim. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Stephen Sondheim can I play here?
Try "LOSING MY MIND", "Agony (Film Version)", "Any Moment - Part I". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Old Friends"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "Old Friends" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "Old Friends"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "Old Friends" is in the key of G at 132 BPM.