Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play 6 O’clock Blues on piano
Written by Solange Knowles, Mark Ronson & others
- D major
- 4/4
- 87 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 2008
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn 6 O’clock Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – G – D – G
How it goes
6 O’clock Blues sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIGIVDIGIV- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Marching giant
How it goes
Thick three-note chords on every beat, rocking between two shapes. Musicians call it lh triads (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
How it goes
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 87 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 – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- AA · C# · E
Play next
Questions about 6 O’clock Blues
What chords are in 6 O’clock Blues?
The loop is D – G – D – G (I – IV – I – IV) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is 6 O’clock Blues in?
D major, at about 87 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in 6 O’clock Blues?
Marching giant: lh triads, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is 6 O’clock Blues 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.