The Wild Boys Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Wild Boys in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Em – Bm – Em – Bm
How it goes
The Wild Boys sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Em is E, G and B; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EmiBmvEmiBmv
- EmE · G · B
- BmB · D · F#
28 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Chugging-train pulse
How it goes
Chugs along in quick even notes, then takes one tiny breath at the end. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
Chugging-train pulseRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handMedium
3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pop stabsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 116 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: C – D – Em
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in The Wild Boys?

The loop is Em – Bm – Em – Bm (i – v – i – v) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.

What key is The Wild Boys in?

E minor, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Wild Boys?

Chugging-train pulse: root bass · 1 · 1& · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Wild Boys easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.