Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Blue Prelude on piano
Written by Joe Bishop
- D minor
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- 1933
- Easy
Learn Blue Prelude in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – Dm – Bb7 – A7
Blue Prelude sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7V7DmiBb7VI7A7V7- A7A · C# · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: Bb – C – Dm
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Blue Prelude
What chords are in Blue Prelude?
The loop is A7 – Dm – Bb7 – A7 (V7 – i – bVI7 – V7) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.
What key is Blue Prelude in?
D minor, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Blue Prelude?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Blue Prelude 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.