Artist
James Brown piano songs
10 songs by James Brown, each opened like a recipe: the chords, what each hand plays and how it ends. Mostly played as pop piano, 50s doo-wop piano in 12/8 and blues and boogie-woogie piano.
Every James Brown song
- I Got YouD major · 4/4 · IV7–I7–V7–IV7
- Papa’s Got A Brand New BagE major · 4/4 · V7–I7–IV7–I7
- Cold Sweat, Pt. 1D major · 4/4 · bVII7–bIII7–bVII7–bIII7
- Doin’ It To DeathF major · 12/8 · I7–bII7–I7–bII7
- I Got The Feelin’E minor · 4/4 · IV–i–IV–i
- Lost SomeoneE major · 12/8 · vi–IV–vi–IV
- My ThangF minor · 4/4 · IV–i–IV–i
- Night TrainAb major · 4/4 · IV7–I–IV7–I
- Out Of SightC major · 4/4 · I7–IV7–I7–V7
- Try MeC major · 4/4 · I–vi–IV–V7
How James Brown is played
Questions about James Brown on piano
What are the easiest James Brown songs to play on piano?
Start with Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, Cold Sweat, Pt. 1 and Doin’ It To Death: their left hands are easy patterns, and the chords repeat.
What keys are James Brown songs in?
Most often D major, E major and C major.
Which chord progressions do James Brown songs use?
IV7–I7–V7–IV7, vi–IV–vi–IV and I7–IV7–I7–V7 come up most: learn them and many of these songs are within reach.