Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Limehouse Blues on piano
- G major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- 2012
- Easy
Learn Limehouse Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – A7 – G – B7
Limehouse Blues sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; A7 is A, C#, E and G; G is G, B and D; B7 is B, D#, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7IV7A7II7GIB7III7- C7C · E · G · Bb
- A7A · C# · E · G
- GG · B · D
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
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: Hopscotch bells
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: G – D7 – G
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GD7G- D7D · F# · A · C
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Questions about Limehouse Blues
What chords are in Limehouse Blues?
The loop is C7 – A7 – G – B7 (IV7 – II7 – I – III7) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.
What key is Limehouse Blues in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Limehouse Blues?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Limehouse Blues 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.