Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play The Boxer on piano
- C major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- 1968
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Boxer in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – G7 – C – C
How it goes
The Boxer sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GVG7V7CICI- GG · B · D
- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Seesaw bass
How it goes
Low, higher, low, higher on every beat: a steady seesaw. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-1-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 481 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Knock-knock chords
How it goes
Chord, a quick knock-knock, a pause, then one last chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
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Questions about The Boxer
What chords are in The Boxer?
The loop is G – G7 – C – C (V – V7 – I – V) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is The Boxer in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in The Boxer?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Boxer 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.
Can I hear the real melody of The Boxer?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the repeating figure 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.