How to play Ballin' The Jack on piano

Learn Ballin' The Jack in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – E7 – A7 – D7
How it goes
Ballin' The Jack sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; E7 is E, G#, B and D; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIE7VI7A7II7D7V7
- GG · B · D
- E7E · G# · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
19 songs go round the same chords
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.
Stride jumpsStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
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.
Push chordsSyncopated chords · RockRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 130 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: Em – C – G
How it goes
The last chords are vi – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EmCG
- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Ballin' The Jack?

The loop is G – E7 – A7 – D7 (I – VI7 – II7 – V7) in G major, and the song ends on Em – C – G.

What key is Ballin' The Jack in?

G major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Ballin' The Jack?

Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Ballin' The Jack 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.