Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Runaway on piano
Written by Del Shannon & Max Crook
- Bb minor
- 4/4
- 156 BPM
- I–vi–I–vi loop
- 1961
- Easy
Learn Runaway in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bb – Gm – Bb – Gm
Runaway sits in Bb minor: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; Gm is G, Bb and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIGmviBbIGmvi- BbBb · D · F
- GmG · Bb · D
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hand-clap chords
Rests on beat 1, then clap-clap on 2 and one more clap on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 156 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: Bb – Eb – Bb
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbEbBb- EbEb · G · Bb
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Questions about Runaway
What chords are in Runaway?
The loop is Bb – Gm – Bb – Gm (I – vi – I – vi) in Bb minor, and the song ends on Bb – Eb – Bb.
What key is Runaway in?
Bb minor, at about 156 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Runaway?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Runaway 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.