Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Beale Street Blues on piano
By W.C. Handy
- Bb major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- I–V7–I–V7 loop
- 1993
- Easy
Learn Beale Street Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – F7 – Bb – F7
Beale Street Blues sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIF7V7BbIF7V7- BbBb · D · F
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
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: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Eb – F – Bb
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
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Questions about Beale Street Blues
What chords are in Beale Street Blues?
The loop is Bb – F7 – Bb – F7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Beale Street Blues in?
Bb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Beale Street Blues?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Beale 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.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.