Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Boom Boom on piano
By John Lee Hooker
- C major
- 4/4
- 152 BPM
- I–IV7–I–V7 loop
- Easy
Learn Boom Boom in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F7 – C – G7
Boom Boom sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIF7IV7CIG7V7- CC · E · G
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- G7G · B · D · F
- 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: Hand-clap chords
Rests on beat 1, then clap-clap on 2 and one more clap on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 152 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: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Boom Boom
What chords are in Boom Boom?
The loop is C – F7 – C – G7 (I – IV7 – I – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Boom Boom in?
C major, at about 152 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Boom Boom?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Boom Boom 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.