Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Boppin’ The Blues on piano
Written by Carl Lee Perkins & Howard Griffin
- Eb major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- I–IV–I–V7 loop
- 1956
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Boppin’ The Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Ab – Eb – Bb7
How it goes
Boppin’ The Blues sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIAbIVEbIBb7V7- EbEb · G · Bb
- AbAb · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: Ab – Bb – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AbBbEb- BbBb · D · F
Play next
Questions about Boppin’ The Blues
What chords are in Boppin’ The Blues?
The loop is Eb – Ab – Eb – Bb7 (I – IV – I – V7) in Eb major, and the song ends on Ab – Bb – Eb.
What key is Boppin’ The Blues in?
Eb major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Boppin’ The Blues?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Boppin’ The Blues 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.