THE PIANOFORALL INSTANT TRANSPOSER

At some stage in your playing, you will want to change a song to a different key
so that it fits your vocal range.
There is an easy way to do this (but its not quite so easy to explain on paper so
bear with me).
Lets say you were playing a blues in the key of C and your chords were C, F, G
But you wanted to start with the chord of E instead of C because you could sing
more easily over the E chord.
So if your C changes to an E what do the other chords - F and G change to.

The easy way to do it is to move ALL the chords the EXACT same number of
KEYS up or down. You can use the ROOT note of each chord to do this

It takes 5 notes to get from C to E (including C, E and all keys in between)

So to change the chords of F and G you need to go up 5 notes in the same way.
5 notes up from F is A
5 notes up from G is B

So your three new chords will be E - A - B

which are all exactly 5 notes away from C - F - G

Should one of the chords be a minor or a diminished you simply

ADD that distinction to the new chord.
ie If the original chords had been C - Fm and G diminished
The new chords would be
E - Am and B diminished

Try it now but use the INSTANT TRANSPOSER on the next page.
It saves you the bother of having to count your way up the keys

You simply count how far away your FIRST chord is and then you will know which
column all the OTHER chords are going to be in because they all have to be that
exact number of keys away from the original chords (which will be in the white
column).
When you try it a few times you will see how simple it is.

7-2

INSTANT TRANSPOSER
Number of notes from original note

10

11

Db

Eb

F#

Ab

Bb

Eb

F#

Ab

Bb

Db

Db
Eb
E
F

F#
G

Ab
A

Bb
B

D
E
F

F#
G

Ab
A

Bb
B

Eb
F

F#
G

Ab
A

Bb
B

Db

F#
G

Ab
A

Bb
B

Db
D

Ab
A

Bb
B

Db
D

Eb

F#
Ab
A

Bb
B

Db
D

Eb
E

G
A

Bb
B

Db
D

Eb
E
F

Ab
Bb
B

Db
D

Eb
E
F

F#

A
B

Db
D

Eb
E
F

F#
G

Bb
C

Db
D

Eb
E
F

F#
G

Ab

Db
D

Eb
E
F

F#
G

Ab
A

C
D

Eb
E
F

F#
G

Ab
A

Bb

If your original chord is a minor or a diminished or a seventh etc add this on to

the NEW chord you are transposing to.
ie. If the original chord is G diminished and you are transposing to column 8
Your new chord would be Eb diminished

7-3

ADVANCED BLUES

7-4

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

A RECAP ON BOOK 2

In BOOK 2 you learned various LEFT HAND Rhythms

1. TRIAD BLUES

2. STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE RHYTHM

Bb

3. THE 12/8 BOOGIE SHUFFLE RHYTHM

C5

C5

C6

C6

C5

C5

C6

C6

4. You can also use the TWIST RHYTHM you learned in book 1

C
C

7-5

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

EXTENDING THE RIGHT HAND CHORDS

Dont be thinking that your RIGHT HAND has to be playing complicated riffs all
the time. Blues is very rhythmic and because it is very often accompanying a
song it needs to be rhythmic at times
You learned to add in a Right hand chord at the start of each bar in book 2
Now its time to make Right Hand chords a bit more interesting.

First of all instead of just playing plain old basic triad chords in the right hand
lets introduce some sevenths and some inversions
Find these three RIGHT HAND chords for the next practice tune

C
F7

No F (root note)

Backwards Inversion

Youre going to play them with what is called an OFF ON rhythm.

The first beat is as if you are taking your hand quickly OFF the keys (you snap at
the chord quickly) The second beat is as if you are placing the chord back ON
the piano - and it is held for longer.
Notice that I have alternated where the FIRST Right Hand beat of each bar
comes in so that you can practice both.

7-6

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

OFF-ON BLUES
TRIAD BLUES (Left Hand)

OFF

ON

F7

F7

(Middle)

(Middle)

(Backwards)

7-7

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

OFF-ON BOOGIE

OFF

STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE (Left Hand)

ON

F7

F7

(Middle)

(Middle)

(Backwards)

7-8

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

OFF-ON SHUFFLE
OFF

ON

12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

F7

F7

(Middle)

(Middle)

(Backwards)

7-9

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

THE DOUBLE SHUFFLE
Try the DOUBLE SHUFFLE on the next page. This is a great rhythm that drives
the beat forward like a train.
It LOOKS hard but once you get it you wont forget it!
Listen carefully to the sound clip

Observe WHERE the RIGHT HAND chords fit into the LEFT HAND rhythm.

Play it VERY slowly to begin with

RIGHT HAND C CHORD

LEFT HAND 12/8 SHUFFLE RHYTHM

Now try it with a full 12 Bar Blues sequence

7-10

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

DOUBLE SHUFFLE
12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

F7

F7

C7

MIDDLE

MIDDLE

BACKWARDS

7-11

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

TRIPLETS SHUFFLE
C
G Throughout
count

12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

etc

7-12

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

TRIPLETS & DOUBLE SHUFFLE MIX
12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

C7

7-13

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

THE POPULAR I-IV RIFF

One of the most common occurrences in ALL types of music is the movement of
one chord to another chord that is four steps above (using a major scale)
For instance
C to F
D to G

E to A

F to Bb

G to C

A to D

B to E

I know this will sound very confusing - but this movement is known as the
CYCLE OF FIFTHS.

The reason for this is that the movement is often in a DOWNWARDS direction
ie from C DOWN to F which is FIVE steps if you count it backwards on the scale

C D

E
6

F
5

G
4

A
3

B
2

All you need to know for now is the movement to a chord FOUR steps above

ie C to F

F to Bb

G to C

because you can make great use of this movement in your BLUES and GOSPEL
playing.
Try the following sequence on the next page..

7-14

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

THE POPULAR I-IV RIFF
IV CHORDS

I CHORDS
TO

F Middle

TO

Bb Middle

TO

C Middle

RIGHT HAND I-IV BLUES

I

IV

Bb

IV

IV

Bb

Bb

C
Bb

IV

IV etc

Bb F

7-15

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

I-IV SHUFFLE BLUES
I

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

7-16

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

I-IV SHUFFLE BLUES No.2

This version splits each chord up and alternates between thumb and 3rd & 5th
fingers
I

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

IV

7-17

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

I-IV SLIDE

Blues often uses a device known as a SLIDE

This is when you quickly bounce off one note onto another
For instance if you bounce off Eb onto E

It almost sounds as if you are bending the note as you would on a Guitar.
Try the following riff. I call it the Bonnie & Clyde Riff.
C

33

Eb

SLIDE on to E from Eb

Now try a SLIDE with the split chord I-IV riff

C

Eb

G
E

A
F

SLIDE

Eb

G
E

A
F

SLIDE

Then try it with the Left Hand Shuffle Rhythm

SLIDE

SLIDE

Now try the I-IV SHUFFLE BLUES No 2 on the next page and use this
SLIDE. Transpose it to the other two chords F and G.

7-18

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

I-IV SLIDE SHUFFLE

I didnt do the SLIDE in music notation because it would have been too fiddly

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

Slide

7-19

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

SOME COOL NEW RIGHT HAND CHORDS

We can extend the Right Hand chords even further and create some really
Bluesy sounds.

Find these three chords and try the ON - OFF rhythm again with the various
left hand rhythms

Middle Inversion
added 6th (A)

C6
1

No root note
added 9th (G)

F79
1 2

7-20

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

OFF-ON RHYTHM
TRIAD BLUES (Left Hand)

OFF

ON

OFF

ON

C6

F7

C6

F7

C6

7-21

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

OFF-ON BOOGIE

STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE (Left Hand)

OFF

ON

OFF

ON

C6

F7

C6

F7

C6

7-22

RIGHT HAND CHORD RIFFS

OFF-ON SHUFFLE
12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

OFF

ON

OFF

ON

C6

F7

C6

F7

C6

7-23

RIGHT HAND RIFFS AND LICKS

In book 6 you learned some Right Hand licks and patterns that you played over
static left hand seventh chords.
STATIC LEFT HAND CHORDS - 12 BAR BLUES

C7

F7

C7

C7

F7

F7

C7

C7

G7

F7

C7

G7

C BLUES SCALE

C BLUES SCALE - PATTERNS AND LICKS

C
1
5 E
3 C

22

F
D

F#
D#

Eb

1
G
E

Gb
Eb

F
D

E
C

ETC

7-24

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

Putting it all together
Now its time to try some RIGHT HAND patterns WITH the LEFT HAND Rhythms.
The key to success is REPEATED PRACTICE.

Experiment with all the patterns and licks. Start with the LEFT HAND and once
you get into the rhythm add in the RIGHT HAND.
Its OK to make mistakes!

Lets start with a simple three note pattern.

The THREE NOTE JUMP

Its called a 3 1 2 pattern because your third finger plays the first note then your
first finger (thumb) then your second finger. (3 1 2)

7-25

THREE NOTE JUMP

RIGHT HAND ONLY

E C

Eb C

Eb

D# E

C
A
G

Eb C

C
A
G

D# E

Eb

C6

Eb C

Eb

F7

C6

Ab

Bb

7-26

THREE NOTE JUMP

TRIAD BLUES (Left Hand)

E C

Eb C

Eb C

D#

C
A
G

Eb

C6

D#

Eb C

Eb

C
A
G

Eb

Bb

Ab

C6

7-27

THREE NOTE JUMP SHUFFLE

12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

C D

Eb

C D

Eb

C D

D#

C
A
G

Eb

C6

D#

C
A
G

C D

Eb

Eb

C D

Eb

G A

Bb

Ab

C6

7-28

THREE NOTE JUMP BOOGIE

STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE (Left Hand)

E

C D

Eb

Bb

Eb C

D#

C
A
G

Eb

G
Eb

etc

Eb

C
A
G

G
F

Ab

F
F

Eb

Bb

F7

C6

D#

C6

7-29

THREE NOTE JUMP TWIST

TWIST (Left Hand)

C D

Eb

Eb C

D#

C
A
G

Eb

C6

Eb

D#

C
A
G

Eb

C
G

Bb

G
G

E
F

Ab

G
G

F
F

Eb

F7
F

C6

7-30

EXPERIMENT WITH VARIOUS RIFFS

You can see from the previous examples how to practice a riff or pattern.
1. Choose one of the RIGHT HAND patterns ie.
F#

F#

F#

etc

2. Play it repeatedly over one of the LEFT HAND rhythms ie.

F# G C REPEAT

Go through the entire 12 bar chord sequence so that you get used to playing a
riff while you change chords.
Try the following riffs on the next page.

Then try them again with each of the other Left Hand rhythms the Straight 8 Boogie
the Beginners Blues
and the Twist rhythm

7-31

VARIOUS RIFFS
12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

G A C REPEAT
1 2

etc

C Bb G REPEAT
3

2 1

etc

A A
F# F

A A
F# F

5
3

A A
F# F

G G
Eb E

5
3

G G
Eb E

5
3

G G
Eb E

C Bb
1 3

G
1

A
F#

A G
F Eb

5
3

7-32

MORE RIFFS TO PRACTICE WITH

(from book 6)
These three note patterns are taken from the BLUES SCALE - experiment with them
C

Eb

Bb

F#

Eb

Bb

This is a five finger position for the scale

F#

F#

Bb

C Eb F

F#

Eb

This is called a SLIDE - you SLIDE onto the white key from the flat of the key
F#

22

F#

This sounds similar but stretches the sound out. Variety is good
Notice that the sharp # in front of the first F makes them ALL sharp in that bar.
F#

F#

etc

I call this the Bonnie & Clyde Riff. It always reminds me of the song.
C

F#

22

22

Eb

Eb

7-33

MORE RIFFS TO PRACTICE WITH

(from book 6)

The following 3 patterns are nearly the same. The second riff has just got an added C
note on TOP of the first note. This is a common blues trick. In the third riff the 2nd to
5th notes are played very quickly which is a riff in itself. LISTEN to the recording!
F

F#

F#

F#

Eb

F Eb F

Eb

Eb

Eb

Bb

Eb

Bb

Bb

Blues riffs very often use double notes - this gives an extra ring and you often SLIDE
on to the notes from a flat note.
5
3

5
3

A
F#

A
F

Eb

G
E

Bb

A
F#

A
F#

A
F

A
F

Eb

G
E

Eb

G
E

You will have heard the following riff a million times. Try transposing it to F and G for
better effect.
5 E
3 C

F
D

F#
D#

G
E

Gb
Eb

F
D

E
C

This is the BLUES SCALE over two octaves up and down.

The trick is getting the fingering right. Sounds great though doesnt it?
(#)

1 2 3 4 1 3 1 2 3 4 1 3 1 3 1 4

3 2 1 3 1 4 3 2

1
7-34

RIGHT HAND RIFFS

PICK UPs, SLIDEs & TREMELOs
Pick Ups, Hammer Ons and Tremelos are devices that are often used in Blues.
A PICK UP is a short riff that leads into a chord or pattern.

A SLIDE is when you very quickly slide off one note onto another note.
(almost as if youve hit the first note by accident)
This is a typical BLUES device which is trying to copy the sound of a string being
bent on a Guitar - as often happens in the Blues

A TREMELO is when two notes are alternated many times at high speed giving a
vibrating sound. Listen to the sound clip.
Try the following two bars that use all three devices.

PICK UP
E

Eb

E G

SLIDE on to E
from Eb

TREMELO (between G and C)

SLIDE on to G
from F#

12/8 SHUFFLE in C

In the following practice pieces I havent put in any TREMELOs but you can try
them yourself if you want to. For example in bars two, four, six etc you can either
hold the G and C note for four beats or play them as a TREMELO. Experiment!
I also havent written in all the notes for the HAMMER ON because there wasnt
much room - I have written hammer on from Eb underneath instead.

7-35

SLIDE SHUFFLE

12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

C E G A

Slide on to
E from Eb

C E G A

Slide

(Try a TREMELO?)

C E G A

Slide

C E G A

Slide

C E G A

Slide

TRIPLETS

C E G A

Slide

7-36

SLIDE ON BOOGIE

STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE (Left Hand)

C E G A

Slide

C E G A

Slide

Bb

etc

C E G A

C E G A

Slide

Slide

C E G A

Slide

G
G

C
C E G A

F
F

Slide

7-37

USING THE OCTAVES

12/8 SHUFFLE (Left Hand)

The great thing about piano is you can clearly see all the octaves. They all look
exactly the same! So if you learn a riff in one octave you can EASILY move it up
or down the piano to another octave. Even better is when you can LINK two or
three duplicate riffs together to take you up the piano and then use another riff or
run to bring you all the way down again.
Try the following exercise and then introduce it into your 12 bar blues.

Three PICK-UPs and a BLUES SCALE run

C E GA

C E G A

Slide

Slide

Bb G

Gb F

3 1

Eb

Bb

Gb F

3 1

C BLUES SCALE - downwards motion

C E G

Slide

Bb G

3 2

7-38

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

TURNAROUNDS

Blues tunes are normally made up of a repeated sequence of 12

chords.

When you get to the 12th bar there is usually a device called a
turnaround which is basically a chord, lick or pattern that gives
you a strong audible desire to return to the beginning and start
again. This drives the tune forward and gives the listener a sense
of involvement in the tune.
Try the examples on the following page for Blues in the key of C
and then try to add them into your playing.

7-39

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

BASIC TURNAROUND

TURNAROUNDS
(In the key of C)

BAR 10

BAR 12
TURNAROUND
CHORD

LEFT HAND TURNAROUND

BAR 12

BAR 10

TURNAROUND
C
F

G
C

TWO HANDS TURNAROUND

BAR 10

TURNAROUND

G C G F# C G F C F

D
G

C#
F#

BAR 12

2 5 2 1 5 2 1 5 1

G
C

C
F

C#
F#

D
G
7-40

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

BLUES IN THE
KEY OF G

TRANSPOSE - TRANSPOSE - TRANSPOSE

So far, weve looked at Blues in the key of C.

Its GREAT practice to TRANSPOSE all the exercises into as

many different keys as possible - particularly F, G, and Bb

If a Blues tune in the key of C doesnt fit your vocal range then
the next easiest key to try is G.

Over the next few pages I will give you some guidelines for the
key of G but its even better practice if you can transpose everything you have learned so far into the key of G by figuring it out
for yourself

7-41

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

LEFT HAND PATTERNS FOR THE KEY OF G
STRAIGHT EIGHT BOOGIE

LEFT HAND

C
C

Bb

LEFT HAND

D
D

C
C

F#

12/8 SHUFFLE

C
G
C

D
G

7-42

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

RIGHT HAND CHORDS FOR THE KEY OF G
BASIC CHORDS

C7

(Middle - no root)

D7

(backwards)

G6

(middle)

ADVANCED CHORDS

1 2

1 2

C79

(no root)

7-43

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

THE G BLUES SCALE (RIGHT HAND)
Remember how to construct a BLUES SCALE

Use the 4 notes of the MINOR SEVENTH (In Gm7 they are G - Bb - D - F)

And add the 4th and the flattened 5th (In G these are C - Db)

THE G BLUES SCALE

ONE OCTAVE

34 1

TWO OCTAVES

34 1

34 1

3 1

ONE OCTAVE

Bb

Db

TWO OCTAVES

Bb

Db

Bb

Db

7-44

G BLUES SCALE RIFFS TO PRACTICE WITH

(Practice these higher up the keys as well)

These three note patterns are taken from the BLUES SCALE - experiment with them

Bb

Db

Bb

Db

Db

Bb

This is a five finger position for the scale

G Bb C Db

This is called a SLIDE - very often you slide onto the white key from the
flat of the key
C#

22

This sounds similar but stretches the sound out. Variety is good
Notice that the sharp # in front of the first C makes them ALL sharp in that bar.
C#

C#

etc

C#

I call this the Bonnie & Clyde Riff. It always reminds me of the song.
G
1

22

C#

22

Bb

Bb

7-45

G BLUES SCALE RIFFS TO PRACTICE WITH

(Practice these higher up the keys as well)

The following 3 patterns are nearly the same. The second riff has just got an added G
note on TOP of the first note. This is a common blues trick. In the third riff the 2no to
5th notes are played very quickly which is a riff in itself. LISTEN to the recording!
C

Db

Bb

Bb

Db

Bb

Bb

Bb

Db C Bb C

Blues riffs very often use double notes - this gives an extra ring and you often SLIDE
on to the notes from a flat note.
5
3

5
3

E
C#

E
C

Bb

D
B

E
C#

E
C

E
C#

Bb

D
B

E
C

Bb

D
B

You will have heard the following riff a million times. Try transposing it to C and D for
better effect.
B
G

C
A

C#
A#

D
B

Db
Bb

C
A

B
G

5
3

This is the BLUES SCALE over two octaves up and down.

The trick is getting the fingering right. Sounds great though doesnt it?
(#)

1 2 3 4 1 3 1 2 3 4 1 3 1 3 1 4

3 1 4

3 2 1
7-46

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

BASIC TURNAROUND

C7

TURNAROUNDS
(In the key of G)

BAR 10

BAR 12
TURNAROUND
CHORD

LEFT HAND TURNAROUND

C7

BAR 12

BAR 10

TURNAROUND
D
G

TWO HANDS TURNAROUND

C7

BAR 10

D G D C# G D C G C

G
C

2 5 2 1 5 2 1 5 1

G#
C#

BAR 12

A
D

TURNAROUND

TURNAROUND

D
G

G
C

G#
C#

A
D
7-47

EXTRA LEFT HAND RHYTHMS

(one bar in the key of C - Transpose to all keys)

NEW ORLEANS (Like Blueberry Hill Rhythm with an added C note on top)
C

BARRELHOUSE

ROCKABOOGIE 1
C

ROCKABOOGIE 2

D#

Eb

G
C

Eb

G
C

BOOGIE WOOGIE
C

BROKEN OCTAVES
C

F#

7-48

ADVANCED BLUES PIANO

TAKING IT FURTHER

Hopefully, you will now have a feeling for playing Blues Piano.
Obviously there is an infinite amount left to learn.

Keep transposing all you have learned into as many other keys as possible.

Buy more books on Blues Piano - listen to CDs - pick out the ryhthms and the
riffs.
Start adding all the various elements together - have fun - experiment - make
mistakes - sing along - practice, practice, practice.
I hope you enjoyed the journey!

7-49

FAKE STRIDE

& The Entertainer

7-50

FAKE STRIDE
part 1 - real stride

Im sure youve seen a seasoned pianist playing stride piano. His or her left hand
going smoothly from a low bass note up to a chord back down to a note up to a
chord and so on. Looks easy but is actually very difficult.
The process for a real stride is as follows

The ROOT note of the chord is played on beat ONE

The CHORD is played on beat TWO - higher up the keyboard

The 5th (below the ROOT) is played on beat THREE
The CHORD is played again on beat FOUR

Lets see how it might work with the chord of C - first find the notes
LEFT HAND

5th

C
C

ROOT

LEFT HAND

C CHORD
Middle Inversion

ROOT

Middle Inversion

CHORD

5th

CHORD

C
C

ROOT

CHORD

C
G

5th

CHORD

7-51

FAKE STRIDE
part 2

FAKE stride produces a similar sound to real stride but is much easier to
perform. In fake stride the object is to keep the bass notes and chord notes in
closer proximity so that your left hand doesnt have too far to travel.
Try this example for the chord of C
LEFT HAND

G
E

FINGERS

1
2

G
E
G

G
E
C

1
2

1
2

G
E
G
5

1
2

Can you see that the single bass notes are basically the same rhythm you
played in the Oom Pah rhythm and the 1st and 2no beats of the bar are a
SPLIT CHORD
Transpose the rhythm to the chords of F and G and try the following chord
progression - LEFT HAND ONLY

7-52

FAKE STRIDE
part 3

LETS MAKE IT EVEN EASIER

Even the fake stride can be difficult to begin with (and tiring on the muscles)
To help your practise you can take out one of the CHORD notes (the 3rd). This
will help you get used to the movement of the notes without over-complicating
things.
Try the progression again and notice the missing notes. Much easier!

ETC

ETC

ETC

Now lets introduce an easy RIGHT HAND pattern.

Listen carefully to the recording. It may look complicated but you will play it
intuitively in no time at all.

7-53

FAKE STRIDE
part 4
RAGTIME RIFF (no left hand 3rd)
C E G CE GC E G C E G

ETC

C
C

G etc
F

C etc

F
F

etc

D etc

G
G

etc

7-54

FAKE STRIDE
part 5
RAGTIME RIFF (with left hand 3rd)
C E G CE GC E G C E G

ETC

C etc

F
G

etc

7-55

The song youve been waiting for

THE ENTERTAINER
by Scott Joplin

Now its time to try the first part of the all-time classic Ragtime song The Entertainer - made famous in recent times in the film The Sting.

Were going to play it using the Fake Stride so it wont be too difficult.
There are a few extra things to look out for.

The classic three bar opening is played using OCTAVES. This is actually easy
if you just LOCK your hand and concentrate on ONE finger. Look at the 3 bar
pattern carefully and youll see it is just ONE pattern repeated over three octaves.
(same notes - but 8 notes to the left) See if you can memorize it.
D E C A

D G

D E C A

D G

D E C A

D G

D E C A

D G

D E C A

B A Ab

D E C A

B A Ab

Look out for BASS RUNS either single note (bar 10) or Octave notes (bar 12)

There are two versions of the piece. The second one adds in some SIXTHS to fill
out the Right hand melody (Bars 6-7, 14-15, 17-19)
You played SIXTHS in book 5 when improvising in the key of Am (Snowman)
This piece needs a LOT of practice but its worth it. Have fun!

7-56

5
D

C D D#
1
2 3

4 3

C D

Eb

Bb

D C

C7

E
3

C D

B D

D D#

2 3

C D

F# A
2

C
2

Bass run

D D#

Octave Bass run

G
D#

C D

1 2

C
3

3
E

D D#

A Ab

C7

G
D
B
G

G
G

C7

E C

E C A

Page 1

OCTAVES

E C

Bb
E

OCTAVES

C7

E C

E C A

E C

OCTAVES

E C

C A

SCOTT JOPLIN
The Entertainer (notes labelled)

E C

F/A

Fm/Ab

Ab

Ab
F

C D

C/G
5

E F F#

Octave Bass run

SCOTT JOPLIN
The Entertainer
G
4

F F#

C G

3 2

B C

D E D

C D

1 4

Fm

A A#

F# D

F#

D
F#

F#

Octave Bass run

A B

C
1

E D C

1 2

Fm

G C

1 2

C
C Middle

C G

A
1

D7

1 2

C7

D
G F# G

3
C

F F#

F
G

E F F#

3
G

Page 2

SCOTT JOPLIN
The Entertainer (page 1 with added 6ths)

Added Sixths

Added Sixths

Added Sixths

You can now try

Book 8