Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Paper In My Shoe on piano
By Boozoo Chavis
- C major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- 1978
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Paper In My Shoe in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – G7 – F7 – C
How it goes
Paper In My Shoe sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G7 is G, B, 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.
CIG7V7F7IV7CI- CC · E · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of 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 130 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Paper In My Shoe
What chords are in Paper In My Shoe?
The loop is C – G7 – F7 – C (I – V7 – IV7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Paper In My Shoe in?
C major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Paper In My Shoe?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Paper In My Shoe 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.