Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Mama’s Song on piano
Artist unknown
- B minor
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- bVI–bVII–i–bVII loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Mama’s Song in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – A – Bm – A
How it goes
Mama’s Song sits in B minor: B is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; A is A, C# and E; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GVIAVIIBmiAVII- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- BmB · D · F#
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sleep-in chords
How it goes
Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end. 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: G – A – Bm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GABm
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Questions about Mama’s Song
What chords are in Mama’s Song?
The loop is G – A – Bm – A (bVI – bVII – i – bVII) in B minor, and the song ends on G – A – Bm.
What key is Mama’s Song in?
B minor, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Mama’s Song?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mama’s Song 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.