Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Down In New Orleans on piano
By Anika Noni Rose
- C major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- I–V7–I–V7 loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Down In New Orleans in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – G7 – C – G7
How it goes
Down In New Orleans sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIG7V7CIG7V7- CC · E · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
How it goes
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
How it goes
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: F – G – C
How it goes
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 Down In New Orleans
What chords are in Down In New Orleans?
The loop is C – G7 – C – G7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Down In New Orleans in?
C major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Down In New Orleans?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Down In New Orleans 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.