In The Jailhouse Now Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn In The Jailhouse Now in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: C – F – G7 – C
How it goes
In The Jailhouse Now sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVG7V7CI
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
100 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Boom-chick
How it goes
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
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.
Wait-a-beat chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 100 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: C – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C

What chords are in In The Jailhouse Now?

The loop is C – F – G7 – C (I – IV – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.

What key is In The Jailhouse Now in?

C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in In The Jailhouse Now?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is In The Jailhouse Now 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.