Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play St. Louis Blues on piano
By W.C. Handy
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 1990
- Easy
Learn St. Louis Blues in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – C7 – Em7 – G – G – C – G
St. Louis Blues sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; Em7 is E, G, B and D; G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7V7C7IV7Em7vi7GIGICIVGI- D7D · F# · A · C
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- Em7E · G · B · D
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
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 100 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: G – D – G
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GDG- DD · F# · A
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Questions about St. Louis Blues
What chords are in St. Louis Blues?
The loop is D7 – C7 – Em7 – G – G – C – G (V7 – IV7 – vi7 – I – IV – I – V7) in G major, and the song ends on G – D – G.
What key is St. Louis Blues in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in St. Louis Blues?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is St. Louis Blues easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of St. Louis Blues?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.