Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Ain’t No Party on piano
Written by Henry Krieger
- F major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- IV7–I7–IV7–I7 loop
- 1981
- Easy
Learn Ain’t No Party in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – F7 – Bb7 – F7
Ain’t No Party sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7IV7F7I7Bb7IV7F7I7- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
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 130 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
Play next
Questions about Ain’t No Party
What chords are in Ain’t No Party?
The loop is Bb7 – F7 – Bb7 – F7 (IV7 – I7 – IV7 – I7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Ain’t No Party in?
F major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Ain’t No Party?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Ain’t No Party 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.