Ain't Misbehavin' Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Ain't Misbehavin' in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: D – Em – A7 – D
Ain't Misbehavin' sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIEmiiA7V7DI
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- A7A · C# · E · G
169 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Double-clap chords
Quick double claps on beats 2 and 4, leaving beats 1 and 3 empty. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Double-clap chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 160 BPM
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
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD
- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in Ain't Misbehavin'?

The loop is D – Em – A7 – D (I – ii – V7 – I) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is Ain't Misbehavin' in?

D major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Ain't Misbehavin'?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Ain't Misbehavin' 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.