Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play I’m Working On A Building on piano
Written by Traditional
- F major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- I–VI7–II7–V7 loop
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn I’m Working On A Building in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – D7 – G7 – C7
How it goes
I’m Working On A Building sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; D7 is D, F#, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FID7VI7G7II7C7V7- FF · A · C
- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hurrying chords
How it goes
Calm chords in the first half, then twice as fast to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: G7 – C7 – F
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
G7C7F
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Questions about I’m Working On A Building
What chords are in I’m Working On A Building?
The loop is F – D7 – G7 – C7 (I – VI7 – II7 – V7) in F major, and the song ends on G7 – C7 – F.
What key is I’m Working On A Building in?
F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in I’m Working On A Building?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I’m Working On A Building 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.