Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Waitin’ In School on piano
Written by Dorsey Burnette & Johnny Burnette
- E major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- 1958
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Waitin’ In School in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – E – C – E
How it goes
Waitin’ In School sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CbVIEICbVIEI- CC · E · G
- EE · G# · B
- 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: Wait-a-beat chords
How it goes
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
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Questions about Waitin’ In School
What chords are in Waitin’ In School?
The loop is C – E – C – E (bVI – I – bVI – I) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Waitin’ In School in?
E major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Waitin’ In School?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Waitin’ In School 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.