Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Rockin' Chair on piano
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 108 BPM
- 1929
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Rockin' Chair in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb7 – Eb – Gm – Gdim
How it goes
Rockin' Chair sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab; Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Gm is G, Bb and D; Gdim is G, Bb and Db. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bb7V7EbIGmiiiGdimiii°- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
- GmG · Bb · D
- GdimG · Bb · Db
- 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: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 108 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 – Ab7 – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbAb7Eb- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
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Questions about Rockin' Chair
What chords are in Rockin' Chair?
The loop is Bb7 – Eb – Gm – Gdim (V7 – I – iii – iiio) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Ab7 – Eb.
What key is Rockin' Chair in?
Eb major, at about 108 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Rockin' Chair?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Rockin' Chair 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.