Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Red Rubber Ball on piano
Written by Paul Simon & Bruce Woodley
- Bb major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- I–vi–IV–V7 loop
- 1965
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Red Rubber Ball in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Gm – Eb – F7
How it goes
Red Rubber Ball sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Gm is G, Bb and D; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIGmviEbIVF7V7- BbBb · D · F
- GmG · Bb · D
- EbEb · G · Bb
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push-and-land chords
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: Eb – F – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- FF · A · C
Play next
Questions about Red Rubber Ball
What chords are in Red Rubber Ball?
The loop is Bb – Gm – Eb – F7 (I – vi – IV – V7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Red Rubber Ball in?
Bb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Red Rubber Ball?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Red Rubber Ball 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.