Cross Road Blues (Crossroads) Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Cross Road Blues (Crossroads) in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: D7 – A7 – D7 – A7
Cross Road Blues (Crossroads) sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7IV7A7I7D7IV7A7I7
- D7D · F# · A · C
- A7A · C# · E · G
15 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Knock-knock footsteps
Step, then a quick knock-knock, a pause, and one last step. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 471 songs of the library.
Knock-knock footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
4
Both hands at 125 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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA
- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in Cross Road Blues (Crossroads)?

The loop is D7 – A7 – D7 – A7 (IV7 – I7 – IV7 – I7) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.

What key is Cross Road Blues (Crossroads) in?

A major, at about 125 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Cross Road Blues (Crossroads)?

Knock-knock footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Cross Road Blues (Crossroads) 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.