Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Boo-Hoo on piano
By Count Basie
- C major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1936
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Boo-Hoo in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – G7 – C
How it goes
Boo-Hoo sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIG7V7CI- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Marching giant
How it goes
Thick three-note chords on every beat, rocking between two shapes. Musicians call it lh triads (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: D7 – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D7G7C- D7D · F# · A · C
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Questions about Boo-Hoo
What chords are in Boo-Hoo?
The loop is G7 – C – G7 – C (V7 – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is Boo-Hoo in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Boo-Hoo?
Marching giant: lh triads, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Boo-Hoo 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.