Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Oh Boy! on piano
Written by Sunny West, Bill Tilghman & others
- G major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- 1957
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Oh Boy! in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – G – G – G7 – Em7
How it goes
Oh Boy! sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: G is G, B and D; G7 is G, B, D and F; Em7 is E, G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIGIGIG7I7Em7vi7- GG · B · D
- G7G · B · D · F
- Em7E · G · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Froggy bounce
How it goes
Fifth, high root, low root, high root: a jolly hopping country bass. Musicians call it broken chord 5-8-1-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 133 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 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about Oh Boy!
What chords are in Oh Boy!?
The loop is G – G – G – G7 – Em7 (I – I7 – vi7 – I – I7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Oh Boy! in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Oh Boy!?
Froggy bounce: broken chord 5-8-1-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Oh Boy! easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Oh Boy!?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune 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.