Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Ain’t Misbehavin’ on piano
- D major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 1929
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
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 – A7 – D7 – G – Gm
How it goes
Ain’t Misbehavin’ sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: D is D, F# and A; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C; G is G, B and D; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIA7V7D7I7GIVGmiv- DD · F# · A
- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- GG · B · D
- GmG · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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
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Questions about Ain’t Misbehavin’
What chords are in Ain’t Misbehavin’?
The loop is D – A7 – D7 – G – Gm (I – V7 – I7 – IV – iv) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Ain’t Misbehavin’ in?
D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Ain’t Misbehavin’?
Stride jumps: stride, 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 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Ain’t Misbehavin’?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 7 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.