How to Play Boogie Woogie Piano

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Boogie-woogie piano is a style of music that is extremely rhythmical and focuses on dance. It was first developed in the late 1800’s in rural African American communities in the Southern United States. Boogie-woogie piano is played by the left hand maintaining a steady, repetitive bass pattern while the right hand plays various counter rhythms, melodies, and licks on top of it. It is a very physically demanding style of piano playing and can be compared to an athletic event.

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Getting Started

PDF download Download Article
  1. Music is a language, and like learning any language, you need to listen to its native speakers. Start by listening to some of the old masters to get an idea of their rhythms, phrasing, timing, and styles. Here are some good people to start with: Clarence "Pinetop" Smith, Cripple Clarence Lofton, Jabo Williams, Montana Taylor, Jimmy Yancey, Hersal Thomas, Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson, Big Maceo Merriweather, Otis Spann, Amos Milburn, Professor Longhair and James Booker. Download their music and listen a little bit to them every day to start getting the true sounds of boogie-woogie in your ears!
    2. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Learning the Left Hand

PDF download Download Article
  1. The left hand is the most important feature of boogie-woogie piano playing and without a steady bass pattern there is no hope of playing true boogie-woogie. Most left hand patterns are “8-to-the-bar”, meaning there are eight eighth-notes played in every bar. Learn at least one left hand bass pattern and be able to play it automatically and independently of the right hand.
  2. 2
    Develop hand independence. This is a great exercise for getting your foot in the door to achieving left hand independence with any new bass pattern you learn.
    • For this example, use your boogie-woogie left hand pattern from Step two. Play the Shuffle pattern (staying on the C chord) in the left hand, and introduce increasingly complicated rhythms in the right hand, using a C6 chord in the first inversion.
  3. 3
    Practice this technique over the three chords of a 12-bar blues. The most common musical form for boogie-woogie songs is a 12-bar blues [1] It consists of three chord changes, the I chord, the IV chord, and the V chord. In the key of C, the I chord is C, the IV chord is F, and the V chord is G. It is absolutely essential that you memorize the 12-bar blues form.
    • You can simply transpose the voicing used for C6 to the keys of F and G, or you can try these different voicings: to make an F chord, simply lower the E to an Eb from your C6 chord. This will make an F9 chord. For a G chord, shift your fingers slightly over to f-g-b-d. Practice the hand independence exercise shown above in the new keys of F (starting the left hand pinky finger on F, and playing an F chord in the right hand) and G (starting the left hand pinky finger on G, and playing a G chord in the right hand).
    4. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Learning the Right Hand

PDF download Download Article
  1. In boogie-woogie piano playing, when the right hand is not playing chords to accompany vocals or another soloist, it usually plays licks. According to Arthur Migliazza’s book “How To Play Boogie Woogie Piano," there are only 8 primary licks, from which infinite variations and combinations are possible. Lick #1 is the most basic, and consists of keeping the right hand in the basic position of a C major triad.
  2. Learn some variations of the lick so that you have more material to work with in your song.
  3. 3
    Practice the lick and variations while playing the left hand bass pattern. The next step is to introduce your right hand licks to your left hand boogie-woogie bass pattern. Practice in C, F and G separately. [Note: you can transpose these licks to F and G, or just play them in C while the left hand changes! It still works!]
    5. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Putting it Together with an Introduction and Ending

PDF download Download Article
  1. Introductions to boogie-woogie songs vary widely. A very common way to start a boogie-woogie is by simply playing the left hand bass pattern for four measure by itself, and then introduce the right hand.Another common way to begin a boogie-woogie is by using the first two chords of a turnaround progression, the I7 and I dim 7. In the key of C this means C7 and C diminished 7.
    • An intro of this sort is usually four measures in duration and consists of going back and forth between these two chords. These four measures count as the first four measures of the 12-bar form and when the left hand comes in with the bass pattern it is on the IV chord.
  2. The simplest way to end a boogie-woogie is by playing this figure with the left hand by itself.
  3. 3
    Combine a repeating, rhythmic bass pattern in the left hand with chords and licks in the right hand. Use an intro to start and an ending to finish and now you’re playing boogie woogie!
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Should I learn the bass chords so I can play them without looking at the keyboard?
    Community Answer
    While there's nothing wrong with looking at the keyboard while playing a song you have memorized, it's good to practice enough that you can familiarize yourself with the keyboard so you simply have to feel to know exactly what to do.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 21
  • Question
    How can I download the boogie videos?
    Community Answer
    Just find a YouTube website downloader that can help you to download videos.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 21
  • Question
    I have a hard time putting the hands together, with and without a variations. Any hints?
    Community Answer
    You should first learn each hand separately. After you have mastered both hands, you should try them both together one measure at a time. Do not move on to the other measure until you have mastered the previous one.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 24
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Remember, fluency in any musical style relies heavily on muscle memory, so practice every chance you get and enjoy!
        Thanks
        Helpful 13 Not Helpful 1
      • Practice one section of notes at a time. This way, you can understand what you need to work on before attempting to play the entire song.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Play the Piano
      How to
      Play Heart and Soul on Piano
      A Beginner’s Guide to Playing “Chopsticks” on the Piano
      How to
      Play "Jingle Bells" on the Piano
      How to
      Play the Piano Part for Journey's "Don't Stop Believing"
      How to
      Play Mary Had a Little Lamb on the Piano
      How to
      Play Bassline when Playing the Piano
      How to
      Improve Your Piano Playing Skills
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie-woogie
      2. "How to Play Boogie Woogie Piano", by Arthur Migliazza 2016
      3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie-woogie
      4. "A Left Hand like God", by Peter Silvester 1988

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Boogie woogie piano is a rhythmic, upbeat type of music. To play boogie woogie piano, start by learning a simple left-hand bass pattern. Most left hand patterns are “8-to-the-bar,” which means there are eight eighth-notes played in every bar. Once you can play the pattern fluidly, practice playing it over 12-bar blues, using your right hand for the chords. The 12-bar blues is a chord progression consisting of the 1st, 4th and 5th chords of a key. So in C major, you'd play C, F, and G. When you’re confident playing a left-hand rhythm over 12-bar blues chords, learn some licks with your right hand. These are short phrases that add flare to your playing. For more tips, including how to play the chords for 12-bar blues, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 182,124 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Paul Krug

        Sep 22, 2016

        "This is awesome! I sat down with it last night and was able to get the 12-bar going with both hands in a reasonable ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement