Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Mame on piano
By Bobby Darin
- C major
- 2/2
- 112 BPM
- I–biio–ii–V7 loop
- 1947
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Mame in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – C#dim – Dm – G7
How it goes
Mame sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; C#dim is C#, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIC#dimbii°DmiiG7V7- CC · E · G
- C#dimC# · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Eager chords
How it goes
Jumps in early before beat 3, like the chords can’t wait. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 112 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: Dm – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmG7C
Play next
Questions about Mame
What chords are in Mame?
The loop is C – C#dim – Dm – G7 (I – biio – ii – V7) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is Mame in?
C major, at about 112 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Mame?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mame 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.