Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Little Boat on piano
By Buddy Kaye
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- 1963
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Little Boat in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Cm – F7 – Dm – G7
How it goes
Little Boat sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Cm is C, Eb and G; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Dm is D, F and A; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CmiiF7V7DmiiiG7VI7- CmC · Eb · G
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- DmD · F · A
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Oom-pah
How it goes
A bass note, then three soft chords: oom, pah, pah, pah. Musicians call it bass + chords (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: Eb – F – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Little Boat
What chords are in Little Boat?
The loop is Cm – F7 – Dm – G7 (ii – V7 – iii – VI7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Little Boat in?
Bb major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Little Boat?
Oom-pah: bass + chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Little Boat 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.