Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Black Water on piano
- D major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Black Water in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – Am – D7 – Am
How it goes
Black Water sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7I7AmvD7I7Amv- D7D · F# · A · C
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
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.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Black Water
What chords are in Black Water?
The loop is D7 – Am – D7 – Am (I7 – v – I7 – v) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Black Water in?
D major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Black Water?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Black Water 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.