Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Mama Look A Boo Boo on piano
Written by Lord Melody
- F major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1957
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Mama Look A Boo Boo in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C7 – F – C7 – F
How it goes
Mama Look A Boo Boo sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C7V7FIC7V7FI- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Island zigzag
How it goes
A jump up, then down past the start, in the three-three-two rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: Gm – C7 – F
How it goes
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GmC7F- GmG · Bb · D
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Questions about Mama Look A Boo Boo
What chords are in Mama Look A Boo Boo?
The loop is C7 – F – C7 – F (V7 – I – V7 – I) in F major, and the song ends on Gm – C7 – F.
What key is Mama Look A Boo Boo in?
F major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Mama Look A Boo Boo?
Island zigzag: broken chord 8-12-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mama Look A Boo Boo 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.