Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Gulf Coast Blues on piano
By Bessie Smith
- C major
- 4/4
- 93 BPM
- 1923
- Easy
Learn Gulf Coast Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – A7 – D7 – G7
Gulf Coast Blues sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7A7VI7D7II7G7V7- G7G · B · D · F
- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll climb
Up three chord notes and one step past: the 1950s rock’n’roll climb. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5-6 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 204 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
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 93 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: C – G7 – C
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C- CC · E · G
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Questions about Gulf Coast Blues
What chords are in Gulf Coast Blues?
The loop is G7 – A7 – D7 – G7 (V7 – VI7 – II7 – V7) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is Gulf Coast Blues in?
C major, at about 93 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Gulf Coast Blues?
Rock’n’roll climb: broken chord 1-3-5-6, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Gulf Coast 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.