Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball on piano
By Ethel Merman
- Bb major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- 1950
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F7 – Bb – F7 – Bb
How it goes
The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F7V7BbIF7V7BbI- F7F · A · C · Eb
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
How it goes
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Peekaboo chords
How it goes
A chord on 2, then two surprises popping up between the beats. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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
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Questions about The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball
What chords are in The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball?
The loop is F7 – Bb – F7 – Bb (V7 – I – V7 – I) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball in?
Bb major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is The Hostess With The Mostes' On The Ball 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.