Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Whoa, Mama on piano
Written by Stephen Martin & Edie Brickell
- E major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- vi–IV–V–vi loop
- 2016
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Whoa, Mama in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C#m – A – B – C#m
How it goes
Whoa, Mama sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C#m is C#, E and G#; A is A, C# and E; B is B, D# and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
C#mviAIVBVC#mvi- C#mC# · E · G#
- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
How it goes
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more 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: E – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EBE- EE · G# · B
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Questions about Whoa, Mama
What chords are in Whoa, Mama?
The loop is C#m – A – B – C#m (vi – IV – V – vi) in E major, and the song ends on E – B – E.
What key is Whoa, Mama in?
E major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Whoa, Mama?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Whoa, Mama 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.