Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Let Me In on piano
Written by Yvonne Baker, Alphonso Howell & others
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 136 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1961
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Let Me In in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F7 – Bb – F7 – Bb
How it goes
Let Me In sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F7V7BbIF7V7BbI- F7F · A · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: Pumping chords
How it goes
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 136 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: C7 – F7 – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
C7F7Bb- C7C · E · G · Bb
Play next
Questions about Let Me In
What chords are in Let Me In?
The loop is F7 – Bb – F7 – Bb (V7 – I – V7 – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on C7 – F7 – Bb.
What key is Let Me In in?
Bb major, at about 136 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Let Me In?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Let Me In 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.