Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Mary Had A Little Lamb on piano
By Buddy Guy
- E major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I7–IV7–I7–V7 loop
- 1988
- Medium
Learn Mary Had A Little Lamb in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E7 – A7 – E7 – B7
Mary Had A Little Lamb sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E7 is E, G#, B and D; A7 is A, C#, E and G; B7 is B, D#, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
E7I7A7IV7E7I7B7V7- E7E · G# · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Boogie walker
A walking line that climbs and falls through the chord. Musicians call it boogie-woogie line (boogie & shuffle), a medium pattern heard in 807 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 100 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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
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Questions about Mary Had A Little Lamb
What chords are in Mary Had A Little Lamb?
The loop is E7 – A7 – E7 – B7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – V7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Mary Had A Little Lamb in?
E major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Mary Had A Little Lamb?
Boogie walker: boogie-woogie line, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mary Had A Little Lamb easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Mary Had A Little Lamb?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.