Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play I.O.U. on piano
Written by Kerry Chater & Austin Roberts
- G major
- 4/4
- 80 BPM
- I–vi–ii–V7 loop
- 1982
- Medium
Learn I.O.U. in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – Em – Am – D7
I.O.U. sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIEmviAmiiD7V7- GG · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Boogie walker
A walking line that climbs and falls through the chord. Musicians call it boogie-woogie line (boogie & shuffle), a medium pattern heard in 807 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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 – D – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about I.O.U.
What chords are in I.O.U.?
The loop is G – Em – Am – D7 (I – vi – ii – V7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is I.O.U. in?
G major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in I.O.U.?
Boogie walker: boogie-woogie line, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I.O.U. 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.