Blues By Five Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Blues By Five in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb7 – Bb7 – Eb7
How it goes
Blues By Five sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb7 is Eb, G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7I7Eb7IV7Bb7I7Eb7IV7
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- Eb7Eb · G · Bb · Db
43 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
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.
Jazz walkWalking bass · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handEasy
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.
Pop stabsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 135 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: Eb – F – Bb
How it goes
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
- BbBb · D · F

What chords are in Blues By Five?

The loop is Bb7 – Eb7 – Bb7 – Eb7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – IV7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.

What key is Blues By Five in?

Bb major, at about 135 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Blues By Five?

Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Blues By Five 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.