Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play No Shoes No Shirt on piano
Written by Casey Beathard
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–ii–V7–ii loop
- 2002
- Medium
Learn No Shoes No Shirt in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – Am – D7 – Am
No Shoes No Shirt sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIAmiiD7V7Amii- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll rocker
The left hand rocks between two shapes, straight out of the 1950s. Musicians call it rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle (boogie & shuffle), a medium pattern heard in 262 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pony-trot chords
Quick trotting chords, then a jump over beat 3 to its “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: Am – D7 – G
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmD7G
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Questions about No Shoes No Shirt
What chords are in No Shoes No Shirt?
The loop is G – Am – D7 – Am (I – ii – V7 – ii) in G major, and the song ends on Am – D7 – G.
What key is No Shoes No Shirt in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in No Shoes No Shirt?
Rock’n’roll rocker: rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is No Shoes No Shirt 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.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.