Basket Case Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Basket Case in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A – G – D – A
Basket Case sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AVGIVDIAV
- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
92 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Oom-pah
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Oom-pahStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Ticking clock
One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Ticking clockRepeated-note pulse · RockRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 85 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

What chords are in Basket Case?

The loop is A – G – D – A (V – IV – I – V) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.

What key is Basket Case in?

D major, at about 85 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Basket Case?

Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Basket Case easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.