Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Puttin' On The Ritz on piano
By Mel Brooks
- E minor
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- Easy
Learn Puttin' On The Ritz in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – A#dim – Am – D7
Puttin' On The Ritz sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; A#dim is A#, C# and E; 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.
GIIIA#dim#iv°AmivD7VII7- GG · B · D
- A#dimA# · C# · E
- AmA · C · E
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
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: Push chords
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: C – D – Em
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
- EmE · G · B
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Questions about Puttin' On The Ritz
What chords are in Puttin' On The Ritz?
The loop is G – A#dim – Am – D7 (bIII – #ivo – iv – bVII7) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Puttin' On The Ritz in?
E minor, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Puttin' On The Ritz?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Puttin' On The Ritz 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.