Piano chords · Old-time stride

How to play El Choclo on piano

By Angel Villoldo

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn El Choclo in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C7 – F – C7 – F
How it goes
El Choclo sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7VII7FIIIC7VII7FIII
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
2
Left hand: Ragtime bounce
How it goes
Quick bass-chord-bass-chord: the bouncy left hand of ragtime. Musicians call it boom-chick (2/4) (stride & boom-chick), a medium pattern heard in 137 songs of the library.
Ragtime bounceStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 63 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: E7 – A7 – D
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
E7A7D
- E7E · G# · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in El Choclo?

The loop is C7 – F – C7 – F (VII7 – III – VII7 – III) in D minor, and the song ends on E7 – A7 – D.

What key is El Choclo in?

D minor, at about 63 beats a minute in 2/4.

What does the left hand play in El Choclo?

Ragtime bounce: boom-chick (2/4), a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is El Choclo easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.

Can I hear the real melody of El Choclo?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.