Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play How Long, How Long Blues on piano
Written by Leroy Carr
- C major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- 1929
- Medium
Learn How Long, How Long Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – C7 – Cdim – Dm
How Long, How Long Blues sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; Cdim is C, Eb and Gb; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIC7I7Cdimi°Dmii- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- CdimC · Eb · Gb
- DmD · F · A
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll rocker
The left hand rocks between two shapes, straight out of the 1950s. Musicians call it rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle (boogie & shuffle), a medium pattern heard in 262 songs of the library.
- 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 80 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 – G – C
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about How Long, How Long Blues
What chords are in How Long, How Long Blues?
The loop is C – C7 – Cdim – Dm (I – I7 – io – ii) in C major, and the song ends on C – G – C.
What key is How Long, How Long Blues in?
C major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in How Long, How Long Blues?
Rock’n’roll rocker: rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is How Long, How Long Blues 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.