Tenor Madness Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Tenor Madness in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Bb – G7 – Cm – F7
How it goes
Tenor Madness sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; G7 is G, B, D and F; Cm is C, Eb and G; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIG7VI7CmiiF7V7
- BbBb · D · F
- G7G · B · D · F
- CmC · Eb · G
- F7F · A · C · Eb
22 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Jazz walkWalking bass · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Sprint-and-stop chords
How it goes
Four quick chords in the first half, then a calm, empty second half. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Sprint-and-stop chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
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
- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C

What chords are in Tenor Madness?

The loop is Bb – G7 – Cm – F7 (I – VI7 – ii – V7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.

What key is Tenor Madness in?

Bb major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Tenor Madness?

Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Tenor Madness 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.