We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Arthur Bird

Step into the world of boogie-woogie and discover the rhythm, energy, and groove of this exciting blues piano style.

Read more

Step into the world of boogie-woogie and discover the rhythm, energy, and groove of this exciting blues piano style.

This course is designed for beginners as well as those who simply want to add some swing to their playing, and it will have you playing authentic boogie blues in no time. You’ll start with a basic 12-bar blues progression, and then gradually build it up by adding a classic boogie-woogie left-hand bass pattern, before moving on to the essential chords, rhythms, and techniques that create that authentic blues sound. As you progress, you’ll learn how to add catchy right-hand licks and riffs, and even begin exploring improvisation so you can make the music your own.

The lessons are quick, easy to follow, and always fun, guiding you step-by-step so that you can copy, practice, and then play with confidence. You don’t need to be able to read sheet music to take part, but a bonus eBook is included with all the sheet music and lesson resources for those who find it helpful.

The course is structured in stages that gradually increase in difficulty, with mini practice pieces at each step to showcase your progress. Along the way, you’ll find exercises designed to strengthen your hands, improve your stamina, and build fluency, while also giving you the freedom to integrate the riffs, licks, and techniques smoothly into your improvisations.

To make practice even more enjoyable, the course comes with backing tracks so you can play along with the sound of a real blues band. By the time you reach the end, you’ll not only have the skills to sit down and play with confidence — you’ll also be able to jam along with impressive boogie-woogie flair, bringing that classic blues groove to life every time you touch the keys.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Master a simple but powerful walking bass line that drives the groove.
  • Break down the 12 bar blues into easy steps, then build up to more advanced boogie variations.
  • Play classic rolling riffs that make the music jump.
  • Develop hand strength, stamina, and dexterity with fun, practical exercises.
  • Add sparkling right-hand licks for that authentic blues sound.
  • Explore a variety of boogie rhythms and techniques to keep things fresh.
  • Take your first steps into improvisation.
  • And most importantly—have a blast every time you sit at the piano!

Syllabus

Introduction
A Welcome from Arthur
Additional Backing Tracks for "Jamming"
Just 3 Chords
Read more

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Career center

Learners who complete Boogie Woogie Piano for Beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Boogie Woogie Piano for Beginners.
Comprehensive overview of the field of music theory. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of music theory to advanced topics such as Schenkerian analysis and post-tonal music. It is an essential resource for any musician who wants to learn about music theory.
This comprehensive encyclopedia by Edward Komara offers a vast repository of information on blues music, including biographies of musicians, historical events, and analysis of musical styles.
Is widely regarded as a foundational text for adult beginners, providing a comprehensive introduction to piano playing. It covers basic music notation, chords, and fundamental techniques. It is commonly used as a textbook and is excellent for gaining a broad understanding of piano fundamentals.
This seminal work by Arnold Schoenberg classic text on harmony. It provides a rigorous and in-depth examination of chord structure, progressions, and voice leading, making it a valuable resource for advanced musicians.
Another highly recommended method book for adult beginners, this resource combines lessons, technique, and theory. It offers a well-structured approach to learning piano fundamentals, including reading music and playing chords. popular choice for both self-learners and those with a teacher, providing a solid foundation.
This comprehensive handbook standard reference in the field of sensory evaluation. It covers various measurement scales and psychometric methods used to quantify sensory perception. It's essential for students and professionals in sensory science and related fields and must-read for those in the domain.
This classic text explores the role of harmonic function in music, providing musicians with a deep understanding of how chords interact and contribute to the overall structure and meaning of musical pieces. It valuable resource for musicians interested in composition, theory, and analysis.
Practical guide to music theory. It provides a clear and concise explanation of the basic principles of music theory, and is an excellent resource for any musician who wants to learn about music theory in a practical way.
Comprehensive reference for essential piano technical building blocks: scales, chords, arpeggios, and cadences. Mastering these is crucial for developing fluency and understanding harmony at the piano. It must-have reference tool for students of all levels and is often used in conjunction with method books.
A highly influential book on piano pedagogy and performance, offering insights from a renowned piano teacher. It delves into the physical and philosophical aspects of piano playing, making it valuable for advanced students, teachers, and professionals. is considered a classic in the field.
Foundational text in the study of musical rhythm, presenting a theoretical framework based on Gestalt principles of pattern perception. It uses musical examples to train readers in the analysis, performance, and writing of rhythm. While not a recent publication, it is highly influential and valuable for building a deep understanding of rhythmic organization in Western music. It can serve as a key reference for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.
A classic technical exercise book, Hanon focuses on developing finger strength, agility, and independence. While not a method for learning to play songs, it crucial resource for building fundamental piano technique. is valuable as a supplementary tool for solidifying technical understanding.
A comprehensive resource on jazz theory, this book is not limited to pianists but is highly relevant for deepening the understanding of the harmonic and theoretical underpinnings of jazz. It can be used in conjunction with The Jazz Piano Book for a more complete picture. is valuable for advanced students and professionals.
Provides a detailed approach to developing efficient and injury-preventative piano technique. It includes exercises and explanations focusing on the physical aspects of playing. It's a valuable resource for deepening technical understanding and is suitable for students and professionals.
By Bruce Bastin examines the regional variations of blues music, exploring the unique styles and traditions that emerged in different parts of the United States.
Czerny's exercises are fundamental for developing finger dexterity and control, particularly for beginners. provides a systematic approach to technical development through etudes. It serves as valuable additional reading and practice material for those looking to improve their technical proficiency.
This comprehensive textbook is designed for piano teachers, covering a wide range of topics related to pedagogy, studio management, and teaching techniques. It's an invaluable resource for those aspiring to teach piano or seeking to enhance their teaching skills. It is often used as a textbook in piano pedagogy programs.
Primarily focused on drumming, this book widely used resource for developing rhythmic reading skills, particularly in Western time signatures. While it may lack in-depth theoretical explanation, its extensive exercises are invaluable for solidifying a practical understanding of syncopation and other rhythmic figures. It is highly recommended for musicians across instruments looking to improve their rhythmic precision and is often used as a standard exercise book.
This encyclopedia comprehensive resource for exploring rhythms from around the world. It provides detailed information on rhythmic patterns, instrumentation, and cultural context. It is an invaluable reference tool for anyone interested in global music and can significantly broaden one's understanding of rhythmic diversity. It is suitable for all levels, from high school to professional.
This practical guide to voice leading provides musicians with a comprehensive overview of the principles and techniques involved in writing smooth and effective voice-leading lines. It valuable resource for musicians interested in composing and arranging vocal and instrumental music.
This highly respected textbook offers a comprehensive treatment of tonal harmony and voice leading, with a strong emphasis on linear aspects. Understanding scales is fundamental to mastering the concepts presented. It's a core text for many university-level theory programs and is commonly used as a textbook.
Introduces data visualization using D3.js, a JavaScript library where scales are fundamental for mapping data values to visual properties. It's highly relevant for understanding scales in a data context and practical for those interested in web-based visualization. It widely recommended starting point for D3.js.
The second volume of this extensive encyclopedia continues the exploration of global rhythms, offering further depth and breadth to the study of rhythmic traditions worldwide. Like the first volume, it serves as a crucial reference for understanding the vast landscape of human rhythm and its cultural significance. It valuable addition for anyone utilizing Volume 1.
Provides a guide to creating effective and aesthetically pleasing data visualizations based on principles of human perception and data representation. It discusses mapping data to visual properties and the implications of different scale types. It's a solid resource for understanding the theoretical underpinnings of visualization scales.
Provides a practical introduction to jazz piano, starting with basic concepts and gradually introducing improvisation techniques and jazz styles. It good resource for intermediate players looking to explore the jazz genre. It offers a solid foundation for developing jazz piano skills.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of piano repertoire suitable for teaching and performance across various levels. It helps teachers and students discover appropriate pieces and understand their pedagogical value. It's a valuable reference tool for selecting repertoire.
Another classic resource for developing rhythmic reading proficiency, this book focuses on rhythms in 4/4 time. It provides a systematic approach to reading and interpreting complex rhythms, making it a valuable tool for musicians of all levels. It's particularly useful for building a strong foundation in common time signatures and is often recommended by music educators.
Offers a sweeping exploration of global music, highlighting the interconnectedness of various rhythmic traditions and their influence on popular music forms like jazz, R&B, and rock and roll. It provides a rich historical and cultural context for understanding the development and spread of rhythms across continents. It is an excellent resource for gaining a broad understanding of rhythm's role in world music and is accessible to a wide audience.
Offers a broad and accessible overview of music theory fundamentals, including scales, intervals, chords, and rhythm. It's suitable for high school and early undergraduate students seeking a general understanding. It serves as a good starting point before diving into more complex topics and useful reference tool.
This comprehensive textbook is widely used in undergraduate music theory programs. It provides a deep dive into tonal harmony, voice leading, and form, with scales as a foundational element throughout. It's essential for developing a strong theoretical understanding and is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.
While not exclusively about piano, this book's principles on overcoming performance anxiety and achieving focus are highly relevant for musicians, including pianists. It provides valuable strategies for mental preparation and performance, making it useful for students and professionals alike.
A collection of essays by a renowned pianist and musicologist, this book offers insightful reflections on piano literature, performance practice, and the life of a pianist. It provides a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the art of piano playing. This is valuable for advanced students and those interested in the intellectual aspects of piano.
Offers a music-driven analysis of electronic dance music (EDM), focusing on the interaction of beat and rhythmic structure in creating musical design. It provides insights into contemporary rhythmic practices in a specific genre and includes interviews with practitioners. It is highly relevant for those interested in contemporary music and can serve as a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate students studying popular music or music technology.
Compiles interviews and writings from legendary pianists, offering diverse perspectives on technique, interpretation, and musical philosophy. It provides valuable historical context and personal insights from masters of the instrument. This is valuable supplementary reading for students of all levels interested in the history of piano performance.
From Berklee College of Music focuses on jazz harmony and is noted as a reference for chord-scale theory, a key concept involving scales. It provides a structured approach to understanding and applying jazz harmony. It useful resource for students deepening their understanding of jazz theory.
Offers a holistic approach to practicing music, emphasizing mindfulness, self-awareness, and connecting with the emotional core of the music. It provides strategies for effective and fulfilling practice sessions. While not piano-specific, its principles are highly applicable to piano study at all levels.
Offers a scholarly overview of the piano's history, from its invention to the present day. It provides crucial context for understanding the evolution of piano music and performance practices. It is valuable for students seeking to broaden their understanding of the piano's cultural and historical significance.
This influential academic work presents a cognitive approach to music theory, including a detailed analysis of musical meter and rhythm. While challenging, it offers a deep theoretical understanding of how listeners perceive and organize rhythmic structures in tonal music. It foundational text for graduate-level study in music theory and can provide significant depth for those with a strong theoretical background.
This practical handbook focuses on developing fundamental rhythm and counting skills for musicians of all instruments. It covers basic concepts like note values, time signatures, and syncopation with accompanying audio examples. It is an excellent resource for beginners and those looking to solidify their foundational rhythmic understanding and timing.
This practical guide provides songwriters with a comprehensive overview of chord progressions. It covers topics such as chord function, voice leading, and common chord progressions used in various musical genres.
This specialized book focuses on modal jazz chord progressions, providing musicians with a comprehensive understanding of their construction, usage, and improvisational techniques. It valuable resource for musicians interested in exploring modal jazz harmony.
A classic and foundational text in tonal harmony. While not solely focused on scales, it provides a rigorous understanding of how scales function within harmonic progressions and voice leading in common practice period music. It valuable reference for serious music students and a cornerstone text in music theory education.
Save
Written by Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones, this book provides a fun and accessible introduction to blues music, covering its history, musical elements, and iconic performers.
Provides etudes and exercises focusing on rhythmic and metric devices commonly found in 20th-century music. It valuable resource for musicians seeking to navigate and perform more complex and contemporary rhythmic structures. It is suitable for intermediate to advanced musicians and can expand their understanding of modern rhythmic practices.
Explores the concept of 'groove' in Western music, providing a historical and analytical account of its emergence and musical components. It delves into the aesthetic arguments surrounding groove and its relationship to time and social experience. This book is valuable for those interested in contemporary topics in rhythm, particularly in popular music, and is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students.
Clear and concise introduction to music theory. It is written in a simple and straightforward style, and is an excellent resource for any musician who wants to learn about music theory.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Boogie Woogie Piano for Beginners.
The American South: Its Stories, Music, and Art
Most relevant
Piano Techniques for Modern Music
Most relevant
Play 10 Popular Christmas Carols Arranged for Beginner...
Most relevant
Beginner's Christmas Easy Piano: Learn Festive Songs Now!
Most relevant
Piano Foundation Course Level 1 - Getting Started On Piano
Most relevant
The Blues: Understanding and Performing an American Art...
Most relevant
Pianoforall - 'Classics By Ear' - Erik Satie
Most relevant
Intuitive Piano For Beginners: Learn How To Play Right...
Most relevant
Pianoforall - 'Classics By Ear' - Moonlight Sonata
Most relevant

Udemy Buyer Protection & Guarantee

Verified partner policies & purchase protections

Global Marketplace Leader
Free Trial & Audit

Free Lecture Previews

Free preview video lectures available for all courses; optional 7-day free trial on Personal Plan subscriptions (cancel before trial ends to avoid conversion).

Return & Refund Policy

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

30-day money-back guarantee on all eligible individual course purchases (provided course content has not been substantially consumed or downloaded). Subscription fees are non-refundable once billed.

Buyer Protections

Verified Academic & Industry Partner

Lifetime access to purchased individual courses and future updates, verifiable certificate of completion, and direct student Q&A forums.

Key Purchase Protections
30-day 100% money-back guarantee on course purchases
Lifetime access on web, mobile, and offline
Certificate of completion included with purchase
Direct instructor Q&A and active student community
OpenCourser Verified Partner Policy details last reviewed: 2026-10-22
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser