Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play New Orleans Blues on piano
By Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 135 BPM
- 1925
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn New Orleans Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Edim – Bb – F7 – Bb
How it goes
New Orleans Blues sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Edim is E, G and Bb; Bb is Bb, D and F; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Edim#iv°BbIF7V7BbI- EdimE · G · Bb
- BbBb · D · F
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
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 135 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: Eb – F – Bb
How it goes
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 New Orleans Blues
What chords are in New Orleans Blues?
The loop is Edim – Bb – F7 – Bb (#ivo – I – V7 – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is New Orleans Blues in?
Bb major, at about 135 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in New Orleans Blues?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is New Orleans Blues 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.