Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum) on piano
By Bernard de la Monnoye
- E minor
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- i–V7–i–V7 loop
- 2005
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Em – B7 – Em – B7
How it goes
Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum) sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; B7 is B, D#, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiB7V7EmiB7V7- EmE · G · B
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
How it goes
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 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 120 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 – Em
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum)
What chords are in Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum)?
The loop is Em – B7 – Em – B7 (i – V7 – i – V7) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum) in?
E minor, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum)?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Pat-A-Pan (Willie, Take Your Little Drum) 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.