Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play How Am I Doin' on piano
- E major
- 4/4
- 96 BPM
- 2003
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn How Am I Doin' in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – A7 – C – A7
How it goes
How Am I Doin' sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CbVIA7IV7CbVIA7IV7- CC · E · G
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Bluesy shrug
How it goes
A long root, then down and back up to a bluesy note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 73 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 96 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
Play next
Questions about How Am I Doin'
What chords are in How Am I Doin'?
The loop is C – A7 – C – A7 (bVI – IV7 – bVI – IV7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is How Am I Doin' in?
E major, at about 96 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in How Am I Doin'?
Bluesy shrug: broken chord 8-5-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is How Am I Doin' 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.