Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Red House on piano
Artist unknown
- A major
- 4/4
- 66 BPM
- I7–IV7–I7–IV7 loop
- Medium
Learn Red House in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A7 – D7 – A7 – D7
Red House sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
A7I7D7IV7A7I7D7IV7- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 66 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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
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Questions about Red House
What chords are in Red House?
The loop is A7 – D7 – A7 – D7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – IV7) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Red House in?
A major, at about 66 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Red House?
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 Red House easy to play on piano?
It is a medium 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.