Piano chords · Blues & boogie

How to play Ramblin’ On My Mind on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Ramblin’ On My Mind in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: C – G – D – C
Ramblin’ On My Mind sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIVGIDVCIV
- CC · E · G
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
87 songs go round the same chords
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.
Rock’n’roll rockerBoogie & shuffle · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: Trotting-sleigh chords
Three quick chords on every beat: a rolling, joyful gallop. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Trotting-sleigh chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handTricky
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: C – D – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG

What chords are in Ramblin’ On My Mind?

The loop is C – G – D – C (IV – I – V – IV) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Ramblin’ On My Mind in?

G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Ramblin’ On My Mind?

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 Ramblin’ On My Mind easy to play on piano?

It is a tricky one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.

Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.