Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play The Banks of the Ohio on piano
Artist unknown
- G major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- I–V7–I–I7 loop
- 2000
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Banks of the Ohio in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D7 – G – G7
How it goes
The Banks of the Ohio sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, 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.
GID7V7GIG7I7- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
How it goes
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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: G – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GD7G
Play next
Questions about The Banks of the Ohio
What chords are in The Banks of the Ohio?
The loop is G – D7 – G – G7 (I – V7 – I – I7) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.
What key is The Banks of the Ohio in?
G major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The Banks of the Ohio?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Banks of the Ohio 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.