Makin' Whoopee! Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Makin' Whoopee! in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – D7 – G – G7
How it goes
Makin' Whoopee! sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, 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.
GID7V7GIG7I7
- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
37 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
Stride jumpsStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Skip-and-stroll chords
How it goes
A skippy push at the start, then calm chords on 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Skip-and-stroll chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 110 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: G – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GDG
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in Makin' Whoopee!?

The loop is G – D7 – G – G7 (I – V7 – I – I7) in G major, and the song ends on G – D – G.

What key is Makin' Whoopee! in?

G major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Makin' Whoopee!?

Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Makin' Whoopee! 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.