Artist

Sonny Rollins piano songs

7 songs by Sonny Rollins, each opened like a recipe: the chords, what each hand plays and how it ends. Mostly played as blues and boogie-woogie piano, pop piano and bossa nova piano.

St. ThomasSonny Rollins

AireginWritten by Sonny Rollins

Blue SevenSonny Rollins

DoxyWritten by Sonny Rollins

Every Sonny Rollins song

St. ThomasC major · 4/4 · VI7–ii–V7–I
AireginF minor · 4/4 · i–bII7–i–bII7
Blue SevenBb major · 4/4 · IV7–I7–IV7–I7
DoxyBb major · 4/4 · I–bVII7–VI7–II7
OleoBb major · 4/4 · vi–ii–V7–I
Pent Up HouseG major · 4/4 · Vsus–V7–Vsus–V7
Tenor MadnessBb major · 4/4 · I–VI7–ii–V7

How Sonny Rollins is played

Blues and boogie-woogie pianoSwinging left hands from the 1950s.
Pop pianoThe bounce under a thousand radio hits.
Bossa nova pianoSoft sways and sunny jazz chords.
The VI7–ii–V7–I loop41 songs use it
The IV7–I7–IV7–I7 loop15 songs use it
The vi–ii–V7–I loop35 songs use it

Questions about Sonny Rollins on piano

What are the easiest Sonny Rollins songs to play on piano?

Start with St. Thomas, Airegin and Blue Seven: their left hands are easy patterns, and the chords repeat.

What keys are Sonny Rollins songs in?

Most often Bb major, C major and F minor.

Which chord progressions do Sonny Rollins songs use?

VI7–ii–V7–I, IV7–I7–IV7–I7 and vi–ii–V7–I come up most: learn them and many of these songs are within reach.