Piano chords · Blues & boogie
Basin Street Blues: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Spencer Williams
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- 1928
- Easy
Basin Street Blues written out as piano music: the III7 – VI7 – II7 – III7 loop in Bb major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays jazz walk (walking bass) and the right hand steady chords.
Basin Street Blues chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in Bb major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D7 | III7 | D F# A C |
| 2 | G7 | VI7 | G B D F |
| 4 | C7 | II7 | C E G Bb |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: jazz walk (walking bass) in the left hand and steady chords in the right, over the D7 – G7 – G7 – C7 chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
To see the real melody written out, play “The part you know”: the sheet music changes to it.
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Questions about Basin Street Blues
Does the sheet music for Basin Street Blues have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Basin Street Blues?
The loop is D7 – G7 – G7 – C7 (III7 – VI7 – II7 – III7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Bb – F7 – Bb.
What key is Basin Street Blues in?
Bb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Basin Street Blues?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Basin Street 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Basin Street Blues?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the repeating figure of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.