Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Big Boss Man on piano
Written by Al Smith & Luther Dixon
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- I–I7–I–I7 loop
- 1960
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Big Boss Man in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Eb7 – Eb – Eb7
How it goes
Big Boss Man sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIEb7I7EbIEb7I7- EbEb · G · Bb
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- AbAb · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Big Boss Man
What chords are in Big Boss Man?
The loop is Eb – Eb7 – Eb – Eb7 (I – I7 – I – I7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Big Boss Man in?
Eb major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Big Boss Man?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Big Boss Man 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.