Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Red Rag Top on piano
Artist unknown
- G major
- 2/2
- 140 BPM
- I–ii–I–ii loop
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Red Rag Top in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – Am – G – Am
How it goes
Red Rag Top sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIAmiiGIAmii- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
How it goes
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: G – Am – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAmG
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Questions about Red Rag Top
What chords are in Red Rag Top?
The loop is G – Am – G – Am (I – ii – I – ii) in G major, and the song ends on G – Am – G.
What key is Red Rag Top in?
G major, at about 140 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Red Rag Top?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Red Rag Top 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.