Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Mister Sandman on piano
Written by Pat Ballard
- Bb major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- 1948
- Easy
Learn Mister Sandman in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F7 – Bb – A7 – D7
Mister Sandman sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F7V7BbIA7VII7D7III7- F7F · A · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: Eb – F – Bb
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
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Questions about Mister Sandman
What chords are in Mister Sandman?
The loop is F7 – Bb – A7 – D7 (V7 – I – VII7 – III7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Mister Sandman in?
Bb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Mister Sandman?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Mister Sandman 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.