Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play King Porter Stomp on piano
By Jelly Roll Morton
- Ab major
- 4/4
- 152 BPM
- 1924
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn King Porter Stomp in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Ab7 – Db7 – Dbm
How it goes
King Porter Stomp sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb; Db7 is Db, F, Ab and Cb; Dbm is Db, Fb and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIAb7I7Db7IV7Dbmiv- AbAb · C · Eb
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- Db7Db · F · Ab · Cb
- DbmDb · Fb · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-hop chords
How it goes
Steady chords with one quick extra hop after beat 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 152 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: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about King Porter Stomp
What chords are in King Porter Stomp?
The loop is Ab – Ab7 – Db7 – Dbm (I – I7 – IV7 – iv) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is King Porter Stomp in?
Ab major, at about 152 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in King Porter Stomp?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is King Porter Stomp 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.