Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Rub-A-Dub-Dub on piano
Written by Hank Thompson
- C major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- I–IV–V7–I loop
- 1953
- Easy
Learn Rub-A-Dub-Dub in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – G7 – C
Rub-A-Dub-Dub sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVG7V7CI- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Yo-yo bounce
A long high root, a dip down, and back up like a yo-yo. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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 – F – C
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC
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Questions about Rub-A-Dub-Dub
What chords are in Rub-A-Dub-Dub?
The loop is C – F – G7 – C (I – IV – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is Rub-A-Dub-Dub in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Rub-A-Dub-Dub?
Yo-yo bounce: broken chord 8-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Rub-A-Dub-Dub 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.