Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren) on piano
By Shelton Brooks
- C major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- 1994
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – A7 – D7 – Am
How it goes
The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren) sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; A7 is A, C#, E and G; D7 is D, F#, A and C; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIA7VI7D7II7Amvi- CC · E · G
- A7A · C# · E · G
- D7D · F# · A · C
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
How it goes
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: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. 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: D7 – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D7G7C- G7G · B · D · F
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Questions about The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren)
What chords are in The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren)?
The loop is C – A7 – D7 – Am (I – VI7 – II7 – vi) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren) in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren)?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Darktown Strutters' Ball (arr. Phillip Keveren) 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.