Heartbreak Hotel Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Heartbreak Hotel in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: B – B – E – E
Heartbreak Hotel sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B is B, D# and F#; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BVBVEIEI
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
782 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Jazz walk
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Jazz walkWalking bass · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Steady chordsBlock chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 80 BPM
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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE
- AA · C# · E

What chords are in Heartbreak Hotel?

The loop is B – B – E – E (V – I – V – I) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.

What key is Heartbreak Hotel in?

E major, at about 80 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Heartbreak Hotel?

Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Heartbreak Hotel 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.

Can I hear the real melody of Heartbreak Hotel?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the bass riff of the song from a score, with both hands.